Professional help at JUVENIS in Vienna

Treatment of anxiety disorders

Anxiety is an important and natural emotion, such as joy, anger or sadness. It is expressed both in behaviour (flight, avoidance, freezing, etc.), on a physical level (racing heart, sweating, trembling, etc.) and on a cognitive level ("I'm having a heart attack", "I'm going to faint", "I'm losing control").

Psychotherapy at JUVENIS: Consulting room

Treatments & Therapies

At the JUVENIS Medical Center, competent psychotherapists are available to support you in the treatment of a panic disorder. Our therapy offerings include the following areas:

Anxiety disorders

When is it called an anxiety disorder?

Anxiety can have both psychological and physical causes (e.g., hyperthyroidism). It warns us of danger (e.g., in road traffic or when mountaineering) and thus makes an important contribution to our survival. However, when anxiety exceeds a sensible degree, it brings more disadvantages than advantages. Anxiety appears as a symptom in many mental health problems (e.g., depression, obsessive–compulsive disorders, personality disorders).

It is called an anxiety disorder when

  • anxiety occurs too frequently or persists for too long

  • anxiety occurs inappropriately/unnecessarily and more intensely than necessary

  • the anxiety is accompanied by a feeling of loss of control

  • anxiety causes significant distress

  • anxiety leads us to avoid certain situations, resulting in limitations in life – both professionally and privately

Possible causes and contributing conditions of anxiety disorders

  • Elevated stress level accompanied by (sudden or long-lasting) overload

  • Negative experiences in the past

  • Learning by modeling (e.g.: the mother already suffered from anxiety disorders and showed pronounced avoidance behaviour)

  • Genetic predisposition

  • Lack of learning experience (certain behaviours could not be learned, e.g., speaking in front of others)

Please contact JUVENIS by phone at +43 1 236 3020, by e-mail at empfang@juvenismed.at or via the contact form, to arrange a consultation or treatment appointment.

How common are anxiety disorders?

Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental disorders – over the course of a lifetime approximately 14 out of 100 people suffer from an anxiety disorder.

Which anxiety disorders are there?

Consequences of untreated anxiety disorders

  • Depression

  • Medication and alcohol misuse

  • Social withdrawal

  • Physical illnesses (e.g.: high blood pressure, headaches)

Treatment methods as specialist physician and psychotherapist

Specialist, disorder-specific, client-centered treatment of anxiety – MedR. Dr. Jutta Leth

Anxiety is primarily an important and vital reaction that helps us to recognise and assess dangers. The anxiety response activates blood pressure, heart rate and breathing via the body's own stress system, so that we can respond to a threatening situation with fight or flight. However, if this physiological reaction occurs without an external cause, it is referred to as an anxiety or panic disorder.

In which disorders does anxiety play a major role?

  • Depression

  • generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorders

  • post-traumatic stress disorders

  • Phobias (agoraphobia, social phobias)

  • Obsessive-compulsive disorders

  • schizophrenic disorders

  • personality development disorders

Unfortunately, no new patients can be accepted at MedR. Dr. Jutta Leth.

Senior Consultant Dr. Jutta Leth

Please contact JUVENIS by phone at +43 1 236 3020, by e-mail at empfang@juvenismed.at or via the contact form, to arrange a consultation or treatment appointment.

Costs

Treatment Price
1 therapy session (50 minutes) for the treatment of disorder-specific client-centered anxiety € 200

In disorder-centered, client-centered psychotherapy, a frequency of 1 session per week is usual.

Reimbursement for “clinical-psychological treatment” is not provided by the health insurance. Some private supplementary insurances often cover part of the costs – however, this would have to be clarified by the patient with their supplementary insurance.

There is also the possibility of deducting clinical-psychological treatment as an extraordinary expense on your taxes.

Treatment methods of behavioral therapy

Treatment methods in behavioral therapy (abbreviation: VT) – Mag. Hilde Winkler and Mag. Dorothea Bertram

In order to exclude physical causes (e.g., hyperthyroidism, other hormonal disorders, heart defects) for the development of the anxiety disorder, a medical examination is strongly recommended before any psychotherapy.

Every treatment is preceded by a comprehensive diagnostic assessment. In addition, an individual explanatory model is created which provides insight into the development of the disorder. This includes pre-existing risk factors (e.g.: increased anxiety) as well as triggers (e.g.: job loss, separation, death) and maintaining factors (avoidance of feared situations, sedatives, high baseline tension, pathological personality structure) of the illness, which receive particular attention during treatment.

  • Therapeutic relationship: The relationship between client and psychotherapist represents an important active factor in treatment. The therapist supports coping and seeks to maintain a balance between change and stabilization.

  • Relaxation techniques: Learning relaxation methods (e.g., progressive muscle relaxation, diaphragmatic breathing, autogenic training) and their regular – daily (!) – practice by the patient is an integral part of anxiety treatment.

Hilde Winkler at JUVENIS
Dorothea Bertram at JUVENIS

  • Psychoeducation: The patient receives information about the specific anxiety disorder: symptoms, meaning and consequences of avoidance/safety behaviours, the anxiety cycle, factors that maintain the disorder, etc.

  • Exposure: The patient is confronted with the anxiety-inducing situation – either in imagination (in sensu) or with the real situation (in vivo). She should experience that the anxieties are unpleasant but not dangerous, and that the feared consequence usually does not occur. Through such corrective experiences, the patient reevaluates the original trigger of the anxiety.

  • Cognitive techniques: Negative thoughts, catastrophic thoughts, negative evaluations and interpretations of the feared situation are identified and "restructured" using cognitive (cognition = thought) techniques.

  • Depending on the individual problem (e.g.: personality disorder, alcohol misuse), additional psychotherapeutic methods may be applied in the specific case.

Please contact JUVENIS by phone at +43 1 236 3020, by e-mail at empfang@juvenismed.at or via the contact form, to arrange a consultation or treatment appointment.

Treatment methods of behavioral therapy

Treatment methods in behavioral therapy (abbreviation: VT) – Mag. Hilde Winkler and Mag. Dorothea Bertram

In order to exclude physical causes (e.g., hyperthyroidism, other hormonal disorders, heart defects) for the development of the anxiety disorder, a medical examination is strongly recommended before any psychotherapy.

Every treatment is preceded by a comprehensive diagnostic assessment. In addition, an individual explanatory model is created which provides insight into the development of the disorder. This includes pre-existing risk factors (e.g.: increased anxiety) as well as triggers (e.g.: job loss, separation, death) and maintaining factors (avoidance of feared situations, sedatives, high baseline tension, pathological personality structure) of the illness, which receive particular attention during treatment.

Hilde Winkler at JUVENIS
Dorothea Bertram at JUVENIS

  • Therapeutic relationship: The relationship between client and psychotherapist represents an important active factor in treatment. The therapist supports coping and seeks to maintain a balance between change and stabilization.

  • Relaxation techniques: Learning relaxation methods (e.g., progressive muscle relaxation, diaphragmatic breathing, autogenic training) and their regular – daily (!) – practice by the patient is an integral part of anxiety treatment.

  • Psychoeducation: The patient receives information about the specific anxiety disorder: symptoms, meaning and consequences of avoidance/safety behaviours, the anxiety cycle, factors that maintain the disorder, etc.

  • Exposure: The patient is confronted with the anxiety-inducing situation – either in imagination (in sensu) or with the real situation (in vivo). She should experience that the anxieties are unpleasant but not dangerous, and that the feared consequence usually does not occur. Through such corrective experiences, the patient reevaluates the original trigger of the anxiety.

  • Cognitive techniques: Negative thoughts, catastrophic thoughts, negative evaluations and interpretations of the feared situation are identified and "restructured" using cognitive (cognition = thought) techniques.

  • Depending on the individual problem (e.g.: personality disorder, alcohol misuse), additional psychotherapeutic methods may be applied in the specific case.

Please contact JUVENIS by phone at +43 1 236 3020, by e-mail at empfang@juvenismed.at or via the contact form, to arrange a consultation or treatment appointment.

Costs

Treatment Price
1 therapy session (50 minutes) for behavioral therapy of anxiety disorders for new patients € 130
1 therapy session (50 minutes) for behavioral therapy of anxiety disorders for existing patients € 120

In behavioral therapy, a frequency of 1 session per week is usual.

A partial reimbursement of costs through your health insurance fund is possible if a clinically significant mental disorder is present. Some private supplementary insurances often cover part of the costs – however, this should be clarified by the patient with their supplementary insurance.

There is also the possibility of deducting clinical-psychological treatment as an extraordinary expense on your taxes.

FAQs

Anxiety disorders are mental illnesses in which excessive or persistent anxiety reactions occur that can severely impair everyday life. The anxiety is often out of proportion to the actual situation.

The most common types include:

  • generalized anxiety disorder

  • Panic disorder

  • social phobia

  • specific phobias (e.g., fear of flying)

  • Agoraphobia

Typical symptoms include:

  • persistent worries or feelings of anxiety

  • racing heart, shortness of breath, or dizziness

  • inner restlessness and tension

  • Sleep disorders

  • avoidance behavior

The symptoms can occur both physically and mentally.

The causes are usually an interplay of various factors, including:

  • genetic predisposition

  • stressful life events

  • chronic stress

  • neurobiological factors

Treatment is individualized and may include:

  • psychotherapeutic conversations

  • Behavioral therapy

  • Relaxation and coping strategies

  • medication therapy if necessary

The aim is to reduce anxiety and to be better able to cope with everyday life again.

At the beginning, a detailed Diagnostics and medical history. Based on that, an individual therapy plan is developed that is tailored to your needs.

In many cases, anxiety disorders are very treatable. With the right therapy, symptoms can be significantly reduced or completely overcome.

The duration depends on the severity of the disorder. In many cases, treatment is over several weeks to months.

Helpful measures are:

  • Regular exercise

  • Relaxation exercises (e.g. breathing techniques)

  • stress reduction

  • structured daily routine

  • early seeking of professional help

If feelings of anxiety restrict daily life, occur regularly, or worsen, you should seek prompt medical or therapeutic help seek help.

Psychotherapeutic measures are generally low in side effects. In the case of medication therapy, possible side effects are discussed individually.

The costs depend on the scope of the therapy and the number of sessions. For therapy with MedR. Dr. Jutta Leth, a therapy session (50 minutes) costs € 200. A therapy session (50 minutes) with Mag. Hilde Winkler or Mag. Dorothea Bertram costs € 130 for new patients and € 120 for existing patients.

The Exact prices will be provided in a personal consultation..

Depending on the form of therapy, a (partial) coverage of costs by the health insurance be possible.

At JUVENIS you will be cared for by experienced specialists and therapists cared for. Through individualized therapy approaches, modern treatment methods and empathetic support, a sustainable improvement in your quality of life aimed for.

We have answered the most frequently asked questions on the topic of anxiety disorder answered. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us via empfang@juvenismed.at or at +43 1 236 3020.

Team

Senior Consultant Dr. Jutta LethUnfortunately, no new patients can be accepted at this time.

MedR. Dr. med.Jutta Leth

Specialist in Psychiatry & Psychotherapeutic Medicine, client-centered psychotherapist
Curriculum vitae
Mag. Hilde Winkler

Mag.Hilde Winkler

Psychotherapist (behavioral therapy), clinical and health psychologist, occupational psychologist
Curriculum vitae
Private photo

Mag.Dorothea Bertram

Clinical and health psychologist, psychotherapist (behavioral therapy)
Curriculum vitae

Responsible for the content of this page: MedR. Senior Consultant Dr. med. Jutta Leth, Mag. Hilde Winkler & Mag. Dorothea Bertram