# Psychosocial interventions for anxiety disorders in adults: evidence mapping and guideline appraisal

## TL;DR

This study reviews global guidelines on psychosocial treatments for adult anxiety disorders, highlighting differences and the strongest supported therapies.

## Contribution

The study provides a comprehensive evidence map of psychosocial interventions for anxiety disorders across multiple international guidelines.

## Key findings

- Cognitive behavioral therapy is strongly recommended for generalized, panic, and social anxiety disorders.
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, exposure therapy, and virtual reality exposure therapy are not recommended for panic disorder.
- No guidelines address psychosocial interventions for separation anxiety disorder.

## Abstract

This systematic review summarizes the recommendations related to psychosocial interventions for anxiety disorders included in existing guidelines and compares their differences.

Computer-based searches were conducted to identify relevant guidelines on psychosocial interventions for anxiety disorders from domestic and international guideline websites, professional association websites, and other relevant databases. The guidelines’ quality was evaluated using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) tool.

Fourteen guidelines from nine countries were included, with AGREE II scores ranging between 64.4%–96.3%. The specific recommendations were synthesized into a single evidence map, revealing that cognitive behavioral therapy demonstrated strong support for treating generalized anxiety, panic, and social anxiety disorders. Conversely, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, exposure therapy, and virtual reality exposure therapy were not recommended for panic disorder. Additionally, no guidelines provided any recommendations for psychosocial interventions for separation anxiety disorder.

Guidelines on psychosocial interventions for adult anxiety disorders vary remarkably concerning their quality and recommended suggestions. Future guideline development or updates should strictly adhere to standardized development processes. Additionally, researchers should double their efforts to continuously explore and validate the efficacy of various psychosocial interventions in anxiety populations.

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420250654358, PROSPERO, identifier CRD420250654358.