Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41870526›Full record

ArticleScandinavian journal of primary health care2026

Non-pharmacological treatment of anxiety in general practice: a scoping review.

Eva Rix, Laura Felding, Sophia Ingeborg Vang, Gritt Overbeck

Abstract readScoping Review
In one paragraph

Article in Scandinavian journal of primary health care, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Eva RixDepartment of Public Health, The Research Unit for General Practice, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.ORCID 0009-0009-7272-8889
Laura FeldingDepartment of Public Health, The Research Unit for General Practice, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.ORCID 0009-0005-1497-8071
Sophia Ingeborg VangDepartment of Public Health, The Research Unit for General Practice, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.ORCID 0009-0000-4849-1169
Gritt OverbeckDepartment of Public Health, The Research Unit for General Practice, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.ORCID 0000-0002-1740-1148

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAnxiety is a common problem amongst the population, including patients in general practice. Treatment often relies on medication, but non-pharmacological alternatives may offer safer or more sustainable options, particularly for mild to moderate anxiety. There is a limited overview of which non-pharmacological treatments have been studied or implemented in general practice.

objectivesThis scoping review aims to explore and describe existing evidence on non-pharmacological interventions for anxiety in general practice, providing an overview of available treatment approaches and identifying gaps to inform future research.

methodsA scoping review was made following the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. Data was collected using keywords in several databases (PubMed, CINAHL and APA PsycInfo) and selected based on predefined eligibility criteria.

resultsThree thousand four hundred and twenty-five articles were screened and 64 were assessed. A total of seven peer-reviewed articles were included. Three themes emerged among the interventions. These were digital interventions, step-wise and low-intensity care models, and body-based interventions. The interventions were delivered through various formats, including mobile apps, online platforms and in-person clinics. The studies all targeted patients with mild to moderate anxiety. Despite differences in methodology and populations, the interventions showed a positive effect.

conclusionsThis scoping review highlights that while the evidence is still limited, the non-pharmacological interventions mentioned in this review have shown promise in the treatment of anxiety. Further research is needed to assess the effectiveness, implementation and real-world impact of these approaches in general practice.

Indexed as

AnxietyAnxiety DisordersGeneral PracticeHumansAnxiety disordersdigital healthgeneral practicehealth services implementationnon-pharmacological

Identifiers

PMID41870526
PMCPMC13011089

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.