Anxiety, Depression, and Chronic Disease

Anxiety and depressive disorders are common mental health conditions in the United States. These conditions often co-occur and can be both costly and disabling, leading to significant personal, social, and occupational impairments. Community epidemiologic studies note the lifetime prevalence of anxiety disorders and major depressive disorder to be approximately 28% and 17%, respectively. Although rates of anxiety and depression are even higher among patients in primary and specialty care medical settings, they often go unrecognized. An estimated 50% to 65% of patients being treated for anxiety and depression in primary care have at least one or more medical conditions that require ongoing surveillance and treatment. Increased physical symptom burden, recurring medical visits, poor self-care and treatment compliance, high medical costs, and worsening mortality are among ...