| NEWS RELEASE |
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Office of External Communications |
Houston, TX 77204-5017 Fax; 713/743-8199 |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Contact: Angie Joe |
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FREE ANXIETY TESTING FOR THE PUBLIC Free anxiety screenings will be offered to the public from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on May 5, National Anxiety Screening Day, by the Psychology Research and Services Center (PRSC) at the University of Houston. No reservations are necessary. Participants will take a brief paper and pencil test, and they will watch an informational video. Counselors will recommend treatment and give referrals as appropriate. UH offers group and individual therapy for both depression and excessive anxiety. Group treatment is $20/session. The cost of individual treatment is based on a sliding scale, according to monthly income and the number of dependents in a household. The screening will test for panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and major depressive disorder. Tests are conducted in English and are for adults only, but PRSC gives referrals for screenings for Spanish-speaking individuals or children. The National Institute for Mental Health reports one out of every four adults in the U.S. suffer from an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. Anxiety disorders involve excessive apprehension and fear of something, which usually interfere with the person’s life, according to UH assistant professor of psychology Peter Norton. Symptoms include spontaneous panic attacks, obsessively checking and rechecking their actions and persistent, uncontrollable worry and social anxiety. Many people suffer these symptoms needlessly because they are unaware of effective treatments. Testing will be administered at the PRSC, in the Clinical Research Services (CRS) Building at UH. Public parking is available at Entrance 8 off Cullen at Wheeler. For more information about the screening call 713-743-8609.
For more information about UH visit the university’s ‘Newsroom’ at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom. |
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