When do healthcare providers typically prescribe SSRIs for anxiety?

The choice of prescribing SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, for anxiety is particularly indicated in the context of treating conditions such as panic disorder and social anxiety disorder because these disorders can significantly impair an individual's functioning and quality of life. SSRIs have been shown to be effective in alleviating the symptoms of these anxiety disorders by increasing serotonin levels in the brain, which helps to regulate mood and anxiety.

While SSRIs may also be used in a broader range of anxiety-related conditions, the definitive and established indication for their use arises with more severe manifestations such as panic and social anxiety disorders. Other options reflect less common scenarios or conditions where SSRIs are either not the first line of treatment or may not address the primary issue effectively.

In mild cases of anxiety, psychotherapy or non-pharmacological interventions are often preferred as initial treatments. Prescribing SSRIs solely for chronic insomnia is not standard practice, as insomnia can have various causes and might be better treated through other means. Lastly, while psychotherapy is beneficial and may even precede medication in some treatment plans, the statement suggesting SSRIs should only be prescribed after psychotherapy does not encompass the full range of clinical decision-making; in many situations, they are considered when immediate relief from anxiety symptoms is required