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Abstract
Members of an anxiety disorders self-help group were surveyed to provide a better understanding of the members of these organisations in Australia and thereby assist psychologists providing for their needs. Thirty-four members of the West Australian Anxiety Self-Help Association (ASHA) completed an open-ended survey asking about the type of professionals from which help was sought, the length of time before a diagnosis was made, the type of treatment received and the type of treatment that was preferred. Responses were then classified into categories for analysis. The membership of the Australian group was comparable to U.S. studies. Most members (88%) initially consulted a general practitioner about their anxiety disorder. It took 4.7 visits to health professionals over 3 years before a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder was made. The most commonly provided treatment was medication, with 91% being prescribed medication at some point, and one third were not happy with their current medication. Nearly all of the participants had tried “alternative” therapies, yet only 44% had tried cognitive behaviour therapies. In conclusion, understanding the needs and experiences of members of self-help organisations will permit greater integration with other mental health services.