Care in All Settings
These quality statements describe what high-quality care looks like for people with an anxiety disorder.
See below for a summary of the quality standard or download it for more detailed statements.
Download the Quality Standard
Quality Statement 1: Identification
People suspected to have an anxiety disorder are identified early using (1) a validated screening tool or recognized screening questions and (2) validated severity-rating scales.
Quality Statement 2: Comprehensive Assessment
People suspected to have an anxiety disorder, or who have had a positive screening result for an anxiety disorder, receive a timely comprehensive assessment to determine whether they have a specific anxiety disorder, the severity of their symptoms, whether they have any comorbid conditions, and whether they have any associated functional impairment.
Quality Statement 3: Support for Family
People with an anxiety disorder are encouraged to involve their family during their assessment and treatment, considering individual needs and preferences. Family members are connected to available resources and supports and provided with psychoeducation.
Quality Statement 4: Stepped-Care Approach
People with an anxiety disorder receive treatment that follows a stepped-care approach, providing the least intensive, most effective intervention first, based on symptom severity, level of functional impairment, and individual needs and preferences.
Quality Statement 5: Self-Help
People with an anxiety disorder are informed about and supported in accessing self-help resources, such as self-help books, Internet-based educational resources, and support groups, considering their individual needs and preferences and in alignment with a stepped-care approach.
Quality Statement 6: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
People with an anxiety disorder have timely access to cognitive behavioural therapy, considering their individual needs and preferences and in alignment with a stepped-care approach. The cognitive behavioural therapy is delivered by a health care professional with expertise in anxiety disorders.
Quality Statement 7: Pharmacological Treatment
People with a moderate to severe anxiety disorder, or people who are not responding to psychological treatment, are offered pharmacological treatment based on their specific anxiety disorder, considering their individual needs and preferences and in alignment with a stepped-care approach.
Quality Statement 8: Monitoring
People with an anxiety disorder have their response to treatment (effectiveness and tolerability) monitored regularly over the course of treatment using validated tools in conjunction with an assessment of their clinical presentation.
Quality Statement 9: Support During Initial Treatment Response
People with an anxiety disorder are informed about what to expect and supported during their initial treatment response. When initial treatment is not working, people with an anxiety disorder are reassessed. They are offered other treatment options, considering their individual needs and preferences and in alignment with a stepped-care approach.
Quality Statement 10: Specialized Expertise in Anxiety Disorders
People with an anxiety disorder who have not responded adequately to treatments are connected to a health care professional with specialized expertise in anxiety disorders.
Quality Statement 11: Relapse Prevention
People with an anxiety disorder who are receiving treatment are provided with information and education about how to prevent relapse and manage symptoms if they re-emerge.
Quality Statement 12: Transitions in Care
People with an anxiety disorder are given appropriate care throughout their lifespan and experience seamless transitions between services and health care professionals, including between care settings and from child and adolescent services to adult services.