A Guide To What Works For Anxiety Disorders - Mental Health First Aid

KampoKava(Piper methysticum)Our ratingOur ratingGAD? Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia ?PTSD and ASD? Specific Phobias ?Social Phobia? OCD ?GADPTSD and ASDSocial PhobiaOur ratingPanic Disorder and AgoraphobiaSpecific PhobiasOCDOur ratingWHAT IS IT?Kampo is Japanese herbal therapy. It was developed from traditionalChinese medicine. Kampo medicines contain combinations of herbs,fungi, minerals and insects.HOW IS IT MEANT TO WORK?Kampo medicines are a traditional treatment. Treatments are derivedfrom over a thousand years of use in Japan.DOES IT WORK?Panic Disorder and AgoraphobiaThere are five reports of cases where Kampo medicines were usedsuccessfully in adults with Panic Disorder. However, no scientific studyhas been carried out with an untreated comparison group.Other anxiety disordersThere is no evidence on whether Kampo works for GAD, PTSD, SocialPhobia, Specific Phobias or OCD.ARE THERE ANY RISKS?There are no known risks.RECOMMENDATIONThere is not enough good evidence to say whether Kampo works or not.WHAT IS IT?Kava is a herb from the South Pacific. It has been used as a socialdrink and in ceremonial rituals for hundreds of years. Because of safetyconcerns, kava is a prohibited import in Australia except under veryspecific conditions.HOW IS IT MEANT TO WORK?Chemicals from the root are thought to affect brain chemistry.DOES IT WORK?Kava has been compared with a placebo (dummy pill) in several goodqualitystudies. These were in adults with a variety of anxiety disordersand daily doses ranged from 150mg to 300mg. Pooling the results fromthese studies showed that kava was more effective than a placebo.ARE THERE ANY RISKS?Kava use may be linked with liver damage. Frequent use in high dosesalso causes a skin rash.RECOMMENDATIONKava appears to be helpful for anxiety disorders. However, it cannot berecommended because of concerns about its safety.50