Evidence-Based Herbal and Nutritional Treatments for Anxiety in Psychiatric Disorders

Dr David A Camfield holds the position of Vice Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Wollongong (AUS), where he is conducting depression and anxiety research in association with the School of Psychology, Centre for Health Initiatives and the Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute. He is also affiliated with the Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University of Technology (AUS), where he has previously been involved in human clinical trials for nutraceuticals which target cognitive function and mood. He has published 37 peer-reviewed journal articles and completed work on 9 book chapters. He has also served as a guest editor with Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine journal. His research interests involve nutraceutical treatments for psychiatric disorders, clinical psychology, biological psychiatry and affective neuroscience. Dr Camfield is currently studying for a Masters in Clinical Psychology, with a view to applying integrative treatment approaches in the treatment of depression, anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder.Erica McIntyre is a Research Associate and lecturer in the School of Psychology at Charles Sturt University, and submitted her PhD thesis in 2016. She previously worked as a Western herbalist with a special interest in mental health. Erica is a Fellow of the ARCCIM International Naturopathy Research Leadership Program at the Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney. Her research interest is in health behaviour, mental health, herbal medicine effectiveness and research translation. She has published 9 peer-reviewed journal articles and 3 book chapters. She is an Associate Editor of the Australian Journal of Herbal Medicine, and Scientific Program Chair for the International Conference on Herbal Medicine. She was previously Vice President of the National Herbalists Association of Australia, and was awarded Fellow of the NHAA in 2015.Dr Jerome Sarris is a Senior Research Fellow, and Head of the ARCADIA mental health research group at the Professorial Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne. He has previously worked as a Naturopath and Acupuncturist before a career as an academic specialising in mental health research. His research interest is primarily in the study of nutrients and psychotropic plant-based medicines (nutraceuticals) to treat mood and anxiety disorders, and in lifestyle medicine and integrative medical approaches for enhancing mental health. He has published 82 peer-reviewed journal articles and completed work on 24 books and book chapters. He serves on the editorial board of notable integrative medicine journals. He has also been awarded the National Herbalists Association of Australia Notable Contribution to Research Award.

“This book discusses the current clinical evidence on the efficacy of a variety of herbal and nutritional treatments for anxiety presenting in various psychiatric disorders. … intended for both clinicians and patients who are interested in understanding the potential effectiveness and risks of various commonly used botanical and nutritional treatments for anxiety disorders. It will be useful for psychiatrists and healthcare professionals interested in this area, as well as for those who inevitably will have patients who use these substances.” (Michael Easton, Doody's Book Reviews, April, 2017)

• Introduction.- Part I: Clinical evidence in support of herbal and nutritional treatments for anxiety: Herbal Anxiolytics with sedative actions.- Adaptogens.- Cognitive Anxiolytics.- Nutritional-based Nutraceuticals.- Treatments for comorbid anxiety and mood disorders.- Part II: Traditional Treatments in Need of further study: Plant-based Psychotropics.- Other Potential anxiolytic Phytotherapies.- Part III: Clinical Perspectives and Case Studies.- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Panic.- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.- Comorbid Anxiety and Depression.- Appendix: Herb-drug Interactions table.