FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 23, 2000
ADAA Press Room
CONTACT:
David Rapoport
202-646-4424
Jeff Macdonald
202-973-2903
[email protected]
ADAA Celebrates Two Decades of Advances in Anxiety Disorders Research and Treatment
Washington, DC, March 23 -- The Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA) will mark its 20th anniversary by highlighting the progress scientists and researchers have made over the past two decades in the diagnosis and treatment of anxiety disorders. Milestones at the Millennium, a special symposia series being held this week at the ADAA's annual conference, ADAA 2000: History -- Discovery -- Research -- Recovery, will explore advances in research and treatment for each of five anxiety disorders.
The conference will also feature a keynote address by Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN) on the role of federal legislation on mental health issues. Senator Wellstone, who has been extremely active in mental health issues during his tenure in Congress, is co-sponsor of Senate health insurance parity legislation that will provide coverage for serious mental illnesses, including some anxiety disorders.
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses in America. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, over 19 million Americans suffer from an anxiety disorder each year. These conditions cost the U.S. more than $42 billion in direct and indirect costs in 1990.
"Anxiety disorders are a major public health problem because both individuals and society pay the price when these disorders go untreated," said Jerilyn Ross, M.A., L.I.C.S.W., president and chief executive officer of ADAA. "People with anxiety disorders make major life decisions based on their anxiety rather than their talent and potential -- they may not date or get married, they drop out of school, they don't seek advancement in their careers, they may even become suicidal."
People with anxiety disorders experience feelings of overwhelming fear and anxiety that are chronic, unremitting and progressively worsen when left untreated. Tormented by panic attacks, obsessive thoughts, flashbacks, nightmares and other frightening symptoms, some people even become housebound. They may also suffer from depression and alcohol and drug abuse.
Anxiety disorders include panic disorder, phobias (such as social phobia, agoraphobia and specific phobias), obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder.
While anxiety disorders can be debilitating, advances in treatment have improved the quality of life for millions living with these disorders. Treatments include medication and a specific form of psychotherapy known as cognitive-behavioral therapy, or a combination of the two.
Each Milestones at the Millennium symposium will focus on one of five anxiety disorders. Prior to each symposium, a special "Millennium Lecture" will address issues that cut across all anxiety disorders.
Friday, March 24, beginning at 1:00 p.m.
Millennium Lecture: Neuroimaging & Neurocircuitry, Scott Rauch, MD
Milestones at the Millennium: Panic Disorder
* Chance, the Prepared Mind and the Appropriate Setting, Donald Klein, MD
* Psychopharmacologic Treatment of Panic Disorder, James Ballenger, MD
* Psychosocial Treatment of Panic Disorder, M. Katherine Shear, MD
* Childhood Origins of Panic Disorder, Jerrold Rosenbaum, MD
Saturday, March 25, beginning at 8:30 a.m.
Millennium Lecture: Genetic Studies of Anxiety Disorders: New Directions,Abby Fyer, MD
Milestones at the Millennium: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
* Neural Plasticity to Stress and Psychotropic Drugs, Ronald Duman, PhD
* Psychopharmacology in PTSD: Does It Have an Impact?, Jonathan Davidson, MD
* Psychosocial Treatment of PTSD: Current Status and Future Directions, Terence Keane, MD
Saturday, March 25, beginning at 1:00 p.m
Millennium Lecture: Epidemiology of Anxiety Disorders: The Past and Future Generations of Research, Myrna M. Weissman, PhD
Milestones at the Millennium: Social Anxiety Disorder
* A Neurobiologist's View of Social Anxiety Disorder: Perspective on the Social Brain, Thomas Insel, MD
* The Pharmacotherapy of Social Anxiety Disorder, Michael Liebowitz, MD
* Psychosocial Aspects of Social Anxiety Disorder and its Treatment, Richard Heimberg, PhD
* Psychopathology and Treatment of Social Anxiety Disorder in Children and Adolescents, Deborah Beidel, PhD
Sunday, March 26, beginning at 8:30 a.m.
Millennium Lecture: Psychological Mechanisms in Anxiety Disorders, Richard J. McNally, PhD
Milestones at the Millennium: Generalized Anxiety Disorder
* Distinguishing GAD and Its Neural Basis from Panic and Phobia, Jeffrey Gray, PhD
* GAD and Depression: Clinical Implications of Comorbidity, R. Bruce Lydiard, PhD, MD
* Pharmacotherapy of GAD, Karl Rickels, MD
* Psychosocial Treatments for GAD: From Intrapsychic to Interpersonal Factors, Thomas Borkovec, PhD
Sunday, March 26, beginning at 10:45 a.m.
Millennium Lecture: Future Therapeutics of Anxiety Disorders, Dennis S. Charney, MD
Milestones at the Millennium: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
* New Developments in the OCD Spectrum: Implications for Pathophysiology, Diagnosis and Treatment, Eric Hollander, MD
* Drug Therapy of OCD: SRIs and Beyond, Wayne Goodman, MD
* The Psychosocial Treatment of OCD, Edna Foa, PhD
* Integrated Treatment of Pediatric OCD, John March, MD
ADAA 2000: History -- Discovery -- Research -- Recovery will be held March 24-26 at the Loew's L'Enfant Plaza Hotel in Washington, DC.
Copies of the full conference program and abstracts are available upon request.
Interviews with leading experts, ADAA spokespersons and patients can be arranged by contacting Jeff Macdonald at 202-973-2903.
Established in 1980, ADAA is the only national, nonprofit group of researchers, clinicians, and consumers dedicated solely to the prevention and cure of anxiety disorders. ADAA can be reached at 301-231-9350 or on the Internet at http://www.adaa.org.
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