Anxiety Disorders

People usually speak to their GP first to find out if anxiety could be related to physical health issues. Your GP can check for signs of an underlying medical condition requiring treatment. 

If physical health issues are ruled out, GPs will often refer people to see either a Psychiatrist or Psychologist, depending on whether medical management or psychological therapy is recommended. Both Psychiatrists and Psychologists can diagnose anxiety disorders, however only Psychiatrists can prescribe medications such as an antidepressant, and Psychologists more commonly provide talk therapy. With a GP referral and/or a Mental Health Care Plan, you can obtain a treatment rebate from Medicare for diagnosed anxiety conditions. 

To help diagnose an anxiety disorder, your mental health provider may give you: 

1. A psychological or psychiatric evaluation. This type of assessment usually involves discussing your thoughts, feelings, behaviour and relevant history to help pinpoint a diagnosis and create a tailored treatment plan. It’s common for anxiety to co-occur with other conditions such as depression — which can make diagnosis more challenging. 
2. Some standardised questionnaires to complete. These questionnaires can help determine the severity of your symptoms compared to others diagnosed with anxiety, and if completed regularly before your sessions, can also help you to track your progress and identify which symptoms are improving, and which may need further attention.