However, the studies that have been conducted seem to indicate that debriefing increases the risk of developing PTSD, instead of decreasing this risk.41,42 Several other studies have examined the possibilities of prevention of other anxiety disorders. In an early study among patients with panic attacks who visited the emergency room of a hospital, it was found that exposure therapy had

better outcomes than reassuring them that there was no physical illness.43 Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical In a more recent study among persons with high levels of anxiety sensitivity, it was found that preventive training consisting of psychoeducation and behavioral exercises significantlyreduced the risk of developing an anxiety disorder in the following 2 years.44 In another study, it was found that the incidence of panic disorder in people with subthreshold panic

Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical attacks is lower at 6 months’ follow-up in those who attended a 1-day preventive workshop compared with those on a waiting list.45 In recent years, several studies have examined the effects of preventive interventions on the onset of psychotic disorders.46-49 In these studies, patients with subthreshold symptoms of psychotic disorders (without meeting full diagnostic criteria) are randomized to cognitive behavior therapy or a control Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical condition. These studies showsignificant reductions of transition to psychotic episodes in those who have received the preventive interventions, compared with those in the Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical control groups, although the longer-term effects

are not so clear.47,48 Problems in identifying target groups for preventive interventions In the preceding paragraphs it was shown that a considerable number of recent studies have examined the effects of preventive interventions on the incidence of mental disorders, and, when taken together, with considerable success. However, the success of these interventions depends very much on the selection of the right target Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical populations. The first step in every intervention is to select a target population which has an increased risk of developing a mental disorder within the coming months or year. In the following paragraphs, we will explain why Phosphoprotein phosphatase this selection of high-risk groups is very complicated, and present some recently developed methods in epidemiology to solve the problems in the selection of target groups. In the past few decades, an enormous body of research has shown that many biological, psychological, and psychosocial risk indicators are associated with the onset of mental disorders. These include genetic factors, characteristics of personality, social economic status, stress and burden, GSK343 order urbanization, loneliness, life events, and somatic factors, such as complications during pregnancy, developmental disorders, neuroendocrinological factors, and general medical disorders.