Anxiety Disorders in The Netherlands

Effectiveness of treatment 

In general, an anxiety disorder in The Netherlands is treated by means of psychotherapy (e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy or EMDR therapy) and medication. Often medication is used in addition to treatment, but sometimes medication alone is sufficient. 

Psychotherapy has proven to be an effective treatment method for anxiety disorders. The percentage of people who fully recover or significantly improve after completing psychotherapy varies by the type of the disorder. Patients with panic disorder appear to benefit most from psychotherapy-based treatment. Indeed, 61% of patients suffering from panic disorder fully recover after going through psychotherapy. 

There are different forms of psychotherapy that can be used when someone suffers from an anxiety disorder. The most studied form of psychotherapy in The Netherlands is cognitive behavioural therapy. This form of therapy has been proven to be effective. Cognitive behavioural therapy appears to be the most effective treatment method in the Netherlands in reducing symptoms of an anxiety disorder. Cognitive behavioural therapy can be carried out in groups or individually. It has generally shown to be equally effective.

In addition, EMDR therapy is a form of psychotherapy that is often used in the Netherlands to reduce anxiety symptoms. Although this form of psychotherapy has been studied less, EMDR therapy also appears to be an effective treatment method. However, current studies show that the effects of EMDR therapy are smaller than those of cognitive behavioural therapy. 

The most effective psychotherapy treatments are thought to last from 16 to 20 sessions. To date, there has been too little research into the optimal duration of psychotherapy. The duration of treatment can also vary greatly from person to person. It has shown, however, that if there is no progress after 16 to 20 sessions, it is better for the patient to switch to another form of psychotherapy or to start a medication-based treatment

Healthcare Costs of Anxiety Disorders in The Netherlands

Someone suffering from an anxiety disorder has a higher demand for care. It is known that people with an anxiety disorder consult their GP more than twice as often as other patients. As an anxiety disorder carries a high disease burden, its treatment can be lengthy and require a great deal of care. The costs of such care can therefore be very high.

In 2017, the total healthcare costs in The Netherlands for anxiety disorders amounted to over €774 million. Of the total healthcare expenditure for anxiety disorders, 65.2% was spent on treatment in women and 34.8% on men. The difference in costs between men and women is related to the difference in the prevalence of anxiety disorders in the Dutch population.