Challenges and early experiences in the development of an anxiety clinic in the public health sector

This paper argues the importance of establishing specialist anxiety clinics within the public sector of the Australian health system. It describes the development of such a service and summarizes the characteristics of the first 1000 clients. Factors such as staffing, utilization trends, referral patterns, assessment and treatment procedures, and the clinical and demographic characteristics of the first 1000 cases are reviewed and discussed. The model of the clinic, which operates in partnership with community mental health and an academic research unit, has proven itself to be a suitable, cost-effective and efficient prototype in the treatment of anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders exact a high social and economic cost. At a time of global funding cuts and savings in the mental health system, it is vital to think ethically as well as cost-efficiently, considerations that require that we offer the most efficient treatment to the greatest number of people. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.