This article provides an overview of the use of paroxetine in the treatment ofanxiety disorders in patients of generd practitioner. The efficacy and safety of paroxetine hare been studied in severd anxiety disorders. The epidemiology, diagnosis, and course of agoraphobia generdized anxiety disorder, specific phobia obsessive-compulsive disorder, socid anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and posttraimatic stress disorder are discussed briefly. Current a/álable dataon the safety and efficacy of paroxetine besed on double-blind, placebo-controlled trids and open-label studies for the treatment of anxiety disorders are reviewed. Clinicd guidelines for the use of paroxetine and recommendations regarding future directions of study are discussed.

        Key words: anxiety disorders - diagnosis - treatment - paroxetine.