| Patients experiencing anxiety should be evaluated for depression. | C | 3 |
| Cognitive behavior therapy has been shown to be at least as effective as medication for GAD with less attrition and more durable effects. | A | 17, 19 |
| Some SSRIs (escitalopram [Lexapro], paroxetine [Paxil], sertraline [Zoloft]); SNRIs (venlafaxine [Effexor], duloxetine [Cymbalta]); and benzodiazepines are more effective than placebo in the treatment of GAD. | A | 25–27, 30–35 |
| SSRI or SNRI therapy is more beneficial for patients with GAD and comorbid depression than benzodiazepine or buspirone (Buspar) therapy. | A | 24–27, 40 |
| Kava is effective in the treatment of GAD, but safety concerns limit its use. | B | 49–52 |