Anxiety disorders in primary care

Studies indicate that persons with anxiety disorders seek treatment from general medical facilities as often as they do from mental health care settings. Yet primary care providers often do not recognize and treat these individuals effectively, perhaps because anxiety disorders present differently in the general health setting. In light of this situation, the authors note the need to disseminate efficacious treatment approaches to primary care settings. With this goal in mind, they review the prevalence of anxiety in the community and in primary care patients, the presentation of anxiety disorders in primary care, how to improve recognition of anxiety and depression in primary care, and treatment strategies for primary care providers.