Clinical management of anxiety disorders in psychiatric settings: Psychology's impact on evidence-based treatment of children and adults

The role of psychologists in psychiatric settings has evolved over the past century from primarily conducting psychological evaluations to being the vital and integral link (sometimes the only such link) to the delivery of scientifically sound assessment and treatment methods. Consequently, the role of the psychologist, with respect to the scientist-practitioner model, has expanded to include collaborator with, consultant to, and teacher of our colleagues in psychiatry. In the integrated areas of research and treatment of anxiety disorders, psychologists have been at the forefront of developing, evaluating, and disseminating empirically supported methods for the range of these conditions in children, adolescents, and adults. Issues common to psychologists practicing in psychiatric settings are discussed in this article, specifically with reference to the tasks and issues encountered by the anxiety specialist.