NEWS
NICE guidance calls for increased recognition of anxiety disorders By Jennifer Sprinks Anxiety disorders are surprisingly common but are under-diagnosed in primary care, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) warned this week as it launched new guidance. It is estimated that around one in 20 people in the UK has an anxiety disorder, but only a minority of them are receiving treatment. The guidance, which sets out four key standards (see box), says many anxiety disorders go undiagnosed. It adds that when they coexist with depression, the latter may be recognised without detecting the underlying and more persistent anxiety disorder. Treatment is often limited to prescription drugs, such as benzodiazepine, a psychoactive medication. This may be because evidence-based psychological services are not widely available, NICE states. University Hospital of North Staffordshire clinical lead nurse Phyllis Dunn helped NICE draw up the guidance with NHS England’s
Care standards for clinicians Ensure people with a suspected anxiety disorder are assessed to identify the severity of symptoms and associated functional impairment. Offer people with anxiety disorder evidence-based psychological interventions. Only prescribe benzodiazepines or antipsychotics for people with anxiety disorders if specifically indicated. Monitor patients’ response to treatment for an anxiety disorder at each treatment session. national clinical director for end of life care Bee Wee and a team of medical experts. Anxiety disorders are types of mental health conditions that include body dysmorphic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. People with generalised anxiety disorders display excessive worry about a number of different events at the same time, which leaves them
feeling irritable and experiencing physical symptoms such as restlessness, fatigue and muscle tension. RCN mental health adviser Ian Hulatt said: ‘Patients may be receiving help for other health issues, not the underlying issue of anxiety. There is a growing recognition that there is a whole range of anxiety-related disorders but not enough awareness that it can stand alone as a diagnosis. ‘Treatments will have to be considered that are not always commonly prescribed or available. In some circumstances, psychological interventions could be safer and more effective than prescribing drugs.’ NICE deputy chief executive and director of health and social care Gillian Leng said: ‘Receiving an accurate and timely diagnosis, followed by the right type of care can be key in determining whether someone progresses towards recovery or whether their mental health deteriorates.’ To read the guidance in full go to publications.nice.org.uk/anxietydisorders-qs53
NATHAN CLARKE
Clinic spurs on public to have health checks A cancer pop-up clinic staffed by nurses was opened last week offering health checks and information about the signs of cancer to the public. The clinic, based in Tottenham Community Sports Centre, directly opposite the home of Tottenham Hotspur football club, White Hart Lane, is part of a year-long partnership between Tottenham Hotspur FC and NHS England. It is one of a series of pop ups that form part of a London-wide initiative by NHS England to improve cancer services and raise survival rates. The clinic is open three times a week. Clinical nurse specialist Sheila Williams, pictured measuring the body mass index of Tottenham Hotspur defender Kyle Walker, said: ‘Around 60 different groups use the centres so we are hoping that we will be busy. ‘Before this we ran some pop up shops in shopping centres and we were seeing 100 people a day.’
10 february 12 :: vol 28 no 24 :: 2014 NURSING STANDARD Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 22, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
NICE guidance calls for increased recognition of anxiety disorders By Jennifer Sprinks Anxiety disorders are surprisingly common but are under-diagnosed in primary care, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) warned this week as it launched new guidance. It is estimated that around one in 20 people in the UK has an anxiety disorder, but only a minority of them are receiving treatment. The guidance, which sets out four key standards (see box), says many anxiety disorders go undiagnosed. It adds that when they coexist with depression, the latter may be recognised without detecting the underlying and more persistent anxiety disorder. Treatment is often limited to prescription drugs, such as benzodiazepine, a psychoactive medication. This may be because evidence-based psychological services are not widely available, NICE states. University Hospital of North Staffordshire clinical lead nurse Phyllis Dunn helped NICE draw up the guidance with NHS England’s
Care standards for clinicians Ensure people with a suspected anxiety disorder are assessed to identify the severity of symptoms and associated functional impairment. Offer people with anxiety disorder evidence-based psychological interventions. Only prescribe benzodiazepines or antipsychotics for people with anxiety disorders if specifically indicated. Monitor patients’ response to treatment for an anxiety disorder at each treatment session. national clinical director for end of life care Bee Wee and a team of medical experts. Anxiety disorders are types of mental health conditions that include body dysmorphic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. People with generalised anxiety disorders display excessive worry about a number of different events at the same time, which leaves them
feeling irritable and experiencing physical symptoms such as restlessness, fatigue and muscle tension. RCN mental health adviser Ian Hulatt said: ‘Patients may be receiving help for other health issues, not the underlying issue of anxiety. There is a growing recognition that there is a whole range of anxiety-related disorders but not enough awareness that it can stand alone as a diagnosis. ‘Treatments will have to be considered that are not always commonly prescribed or available. In some circumstances, psychological interventions could be safer and more effective than prescribing drugs.’ NICE deputy chief executive and director of health and social care Gillian Leng said: ‘Receiving an accurate and timely diagnosis, followed by the right type of care can be key in determining whether someone progresses towards recovery or whether their mental health deteriorates.’ To read the guidance in full go to publications.nice.org.uk/anxietydisorders-qs53
NATHAN CLARKE
Clinic spurs on public to have health checks A cancer pop-up clinic staffed by nurses was opened last week offering health checks and information about the signs of cancer to the public. The clinic, based in Tottenham Community Sports Centre, directly opposite the home of Tottenham Hotspur football club, White Hart Lane, is part of a year-long partnership between Tottenham Hotspur FC and NHS England. It is one of a series of pop ups that form part of a London-wide initiative by NHS England to improve cancer services and raise survival rates. The clinic is open three times a week. Clinical nurse specialist Sheila Williams, pictured measuring the body mass index of Tottenham Hotspur defender Kyle Walker, said: ‘Around 60 different groups use the centres so we are hoping that we will be busy. ‘Before this we ran some pop up shops in shopping centres and we were seeing 100 people a day.’
10 february 12 :: vol 28 no 24 :: 2014 NURSING STANDARD Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 22, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
