Anxiety and Behavioral Treatment

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health condition in the United States, with an estimated 28% of individuals meeting clinical criteria [Page 75]for a lifetime anxiety disorder diagnosis. Anxiety disorders are costly conditions, with an annual economic burden of approximately $42 billion due to impairments in personal, social, and occupational domains. Anxiety disorders also tend to have an early onset and chronic developmental course and are often associated with an overall low quality of life. The public health impact of anxiety disorders is also evident in research documenting consistent associations between anxiety, health risk factors, and chronic disease. Anxiety disorders increase the burden of chronic disease management and can lead to worse clinical and economic outcomes. This entry reviews the association of anxiety disorders ...