Abstract
Anxiety is a symptom experienced by the majority of people at some point in their life. At small amounts, anxiety can be a positive emotion. However, some people experience anxiety to the point where it interferes with their quality of life and manifests itself in a variety of ways. This can make assessment and treatment very difficult for the clinician. When patients are faced with a serious or life-threatening illness, it comes as no surprise that anxiety is a common distressing symptom. How can clinicians effectively recognize, diagnose, and treat anxiety?