[Is anxiety hereditary?]

Familial aggregation of anxiety disorders has repeatedly been reported: the estimated risk among the first degree relatives is of 15% to 18% compared to 3% in control groups. The most recent studies are focused on more homogeneous clinical subgroups. Thus, among agoraphobics first degree relatives, the risk is elevated not only for agoraphobia but also for panic attacks and other phobias. In families of panic attacks, the risk of panic attacks in the first degree relatives is specifically elevated. Thanks to the extremely fast development of genetic linkage and molecular genetics, progress is expected in the field of genetics and psychiatry. Linkage methods applied to anxiety disorders are discussed.