Test Anxiety - Treatment

Treatment

Medication will not cure anxiety disorders but will keep them under control. Drug treatments for anxiety disorders work by downplaying threat detecting mechanisms in the body.

• Beta blockers — commonly used to treat performance anxiety. Propranolol (a beta blocker) blocks the physical manifestations of anxiety. It slows heart rate and reduces sweating. It is not to be taken on the first day of a test, as some people are shown to have adverse side effects which include, but are not limited to, lightheadedness and a very slow heart beat.
• Benzodiazepines — commonly used to treat test anxiety. Should be taken up to 30 minutes before the start of the test. Side effects include, but are not limited to, sleepiness and can impair memory and thought.
• Antidepressants — commonly used for general depression, which can accompany test anxiety. Side effects include, but are not limited to, the potential to cause agitation and suicidal thoughts. These need to be taken on a regular basis not when needed before an exam.

Another approach is the use of psychotherapy. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is very useful in treating anxiety disorders. CBT helps to change the pattern of thinking that support the fear and help the sufferer overcome the negative beliefs. CBT often lasts about two weeks and takes place in small groups.

Medication combined with psychotherapy has shown to be the most effective treatment approach for people suffering from anxiety disorders.

Cognitive interventions have only had limited results when it comes to improving test performance. Some cognitive strategies have even been shown to be detrimental to performance, particularly strategies such as thought suppression.
One intervention that had promising results in a first study is "attentional cognitive bias modification" in which children learning to avoid paying attention to a threatening face.