Areas that will be covered by the guideline:

• Pharmacological interventions compared with: placebo, other pharmacological interventions (those available in the UK according to the British National Formulary), psychological interventions, or combined psychological and pharmacological treatment for
  Anxiety (partial update) scope July 2009 Page 4 of 13
  generalised anxiety disorder. This will include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors [SSRIs] (and related drugs), duloxetine, venlafaxine, tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines, azapirones, antihistamines, beta-blockers, antipsychotics.
• When referring to pharmacological interventions, the guideline will normally recommend use within licensed indications. Exceptionally, and only where the evidence supports it, the guideline may recommend use outside a treatment's licensed indications. The guideline will expect that prescribers will use the Summary of Product Characteristics to inform their prescribing decisions for individual patients.
• Psychological interventions compared with: control groups (such as treatment as usual), other psychological interventions, pharmacological interventions, or combined psychological and pharmacological treatment for generalised anxiety disorder. This will include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), guided self help, counselling, and short term psychodynamic psychotherapy.
• The Guideline Development Group will also review the structure of recommendations of the original guideline and care pathways on which it is based to ensure fit with other NICE guidelines for common mental health disorders.
• The delivery of computerised cognitive behaviour therapy (CCBT) for panic disorder and generalised anxiety disorder.

Areas that will not be covered by the guideline:

• Diagnosis
• Pharmacological and psychological interventions for panic disorder (with or without agoraphobia)