[Prognosis of anxiety disorders]

EPIDEMIOLOGY OF ANXIETY DISORDERS - The prevalence of anxiety disorders is higher in high-income countries than in middle- and low-income countries. In France, their lifetime prevalence ranges from 2.1% for panic disorder to 10.7% for specific phobias. They are more frequent among young, female subjects, with low levels of education, unemployed, with low income and not living with a partner. Phobic disorders, separation anxiety and social anxiety have an early onset, most often in childhood; other anxiety disorders have a later and more variable onset age. Apart from separation anxiety, anxiety disorders have a chronic course in more than half of cases and are frequently associated with a substantial functional impairment. The most common comorbid psychiatric disorders are other anxiety disorders, followed by mood disorders, particularly depression, substance use disorders and impulse control disorders. In France, less than a third of people with anxiety disorders receive treatment and less than 15% receive potentially adequate treatment. Of those who perceive a need for care, less than half receive adequate treatment.