Transtornos de ansiedade: importância da avaliação psicológica no diagnóstico e tratamento

Abstract

Anxiety is the mental disorders, which stand out of the others diseases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Brazil is the country with the highest rate of people with anxiety disorders in the world and the fifth in cases of depression. The specialized health agency estimates that 9.3% of Brazilians present some type of anxiety disorder, where women being the most affected, and representing 7.7% in relation to men, whose rate is 3.6%. The main objective of the research is to contribute to a better clarification of the usefulness of the psychological evaluation instruments as a support tool in the diagnosis issue and more adequate indication of treatment for patients identified with anxiety disorders. The specific objectives are: concept of anxiety; description of types, signs and symptoms of anxiety disorders; concept of psychological evaluation; and awareness of the importance of psychological assessment methods and techniques related to anxiety disorders. In the development of the study, the databases INDEXPSIC, PEPSIC, SCIELO and LILACS, all members of the Virtual Health Library (VHL) were consulted. The result of the research evidenced the existence in Brazil of several instruments used in the evaluation of anxiety disorders, among which, according to the scientific publications, the following stand out: Beck Anxiety Inventory, Rorschach test, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, of Trait Anxiety and State, Social Phobia Inventory, Hamilton Anxiety Scale, CAT-A - Thematic Apperception Test for Children and EFN - Factorial Scale of Emotional Adjustment / Neuroticism.