Improving the Diagnosis and Treatment
of Generalized Anxiety Disorder
March 4, 2010
Baltimore Marriott Waterfront

UPDATE! Course Rescheduled
This course has been rescheduled for March 4, 2010, at the same hotel. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience and hope that you will be able to attend on March 4. Please contact Sara Menase at smenase@adaa.org or 240-485-1031 to change your registration or receive a refund.

Program Information
Generalized anxiety disorder, or GAD, is a chronic, persistent, and disabling condition that is associated with significant use of health care resources in primary care. The National Institute for Mental Health estimates that GAD affects nearly 7 million American adults.

Patients with GAD are characterized by excessive, unrealistic worry that lasts six months or more; the anxiety may focus on issues such as health, money, career, timeliness, repairs, or the security of their children. GAD is highly comorbid with other physical and psychiatric disorders, and it may make treatment of other disorders difficult.

This must-attend conference provides a unique opportunity for health professionals to enhance their clinical practice and improve outcomes for patients who have generalized anxiety disorder, especially women and geriatric patients.

The program focuses on effective diagnosis, appropriate selection of psychosocial and pharmacological therapies, comorbid illnesses, helping patients understand GAD, and reducing the stigma often associated with mental health disorders.

Learning Objectives
At the end of this program, participants should be able to:

• Differentially diagnose and treat generalized anxiety disorder with respect to gender differences, age, and comorbidity.
• Identify patients who would benefit by referral to other providers based on differential diagnosis.
• Critically evaluate and discuss controversies in patient diagnosis and treatment.
  
• Engage patients in understanding the disorder and recognizing the need for treatment and support.

CE/CME Credits
Physicians This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint sponsorship of Blackwell Futura Media Services and the Anxiety Disorders Association of America. Blackwell Futura Media Services is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Blackwell Futura Media Services designates this educational activity for a maximum of 6 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits(TM). Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Psychologists ADAA is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor 7 continuing education credits for psychologists. ADAA maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Social Workers This program is approved by the National Association of Social Workers for 6.5 continuing education credits.

Counselors This program has been approved by the National Board for Certified Counselors for 7 continuing education credits.

Agenda and Faculty

• Diagnosis, Course, and Complications of Generalized Anxiety Disorder
  Mark Pollack, MD — chair
  Director, Center for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Disorders, Massachusetts General Hospital
  Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
• Treating GAD in Primary Care Settings
  Larry Culpepper, MD, MPH
  Professor and Chairman, Department of Family Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine
• Psychosocial Treatments for GAD
  Michael Otto, PhD
  Professor of Psychology, Boston University
  Director, Translational Research, Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders
• Lunch and Discussion of Resources
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Women
  Katherine Shear, MD
  Professor of Psychiatry, Columbia University School of Social Work
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Older Adults
  Eric Lenze, MD
  Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Substance Abuse
  Susan Sonne, PharmD, BCPP
  Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Pharmacy, Medical University of South Carolina

Questions?
Contact Marta Martinez at 240-485-1032.

Sponsored in part by Pfizer Inc.