The prevalence and burden of subthreshold generalized anxiety disorder: a systematic review

Summary & key facts

The article describes “high functioning anxiety” as a way some people with anxiety symptoms talk about their experience, not as an official medical diagnosis. It says people can look successful and cope outwardly while having common anxiety symptoms, and that diagnosis can be hard because the symptom effects may be subtle; treatment options include psychotherapy (like CBT) and medications.

Key facts:

• Doctors do not recognize high functioning anxiety as a distinct, official disorder.
• Anxiety disorders are described as existing on a spectrum; some people have milder or “subclinical” symptoms that do not meet full diagnostic criteria.
• Common symptoms linked to high functioning anxiety include excessive worry, overthinking, sleep problems, perfectionism, an inability to relax, and physical signs such as faster heart rate.
• The DSM-5 (the main diagnostic manual) requires distress or impairment in important areas of life for an anxiety disorder diagnosis, which can make diagnosis harder when people function well outwardly.
• The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is cited saying about 60% of people with anxiety will also have symptoms of depression.
• Research shows only 36.9% of people with an anxiety disorder receive treatment.
• The article says people with high functioning anxiety may be less likely to seek treatment because they appear to manage well or view some symptoms (like perfectionism) as helpful.
• Primary treatments mentioned are psychotherapy and medications; cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is noted as generally effective, and medicines named include some antidepressants, buspirone, and benzodiazepines (the latter for short-term

Topics

Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum

Categories

Experimental and Cognitive Psychology Psychology Social Sciences

Tags

Anxiety Clinical psychology Economic growth Economics Epidemiology Generalized anxiety disorder Health care Internal medicine Law Medicine MEDLINE Mental health Physics Political science Psychiatry Psychosocial PsycINFO Quantum mechanics Subthreshold conduction Systematic review Transistor Voltage