Some patients with anxiety disorders, e.g. patients with generalized anxiety disorder, may be experiencing persistent anxiety without a precipitating stressor; subsequently, a stressor may exacerbate this baseline level of anxiety.1 This phenomenon is called ‘double anxiety’ (i.e., acute anxiety superimposed on persistent anxiety).1,2
Recommended treatment for double anxiety is generally the same as for chronic anxiety and includes intermittent or long-term use of anxiolytic therapies (e.g., benzodiazepines) and/or psychological therapies.1,3
The acute anxiety episode tends to be particularly responsive to pharmacological therapy.2
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