The public health impact of anxiety disorders: a WHO perspective.
Anxiety disorders, which may constitute anywhere from one quarter to one half of all mental illnesses in the community, are most commonly seen in the primary care sector. Despite their significant impact on the functioning of individual patients, the plethora of unnecessary medical procedures to which these sufferers are subjected, and the large indirect economic burden, these disorders continue to be grossly underdiagnosed and undertreated in this sector. Effective treatments for anxiety disorders have been available for at least two decades. Concerted efforts by the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Psychiatric Association and similar organizations are needed to change this picture.
Division of Mental Health and Prevention of Substance Abuse, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
J A
JA
Costa e Silva
D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011634:Public Health / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014944:World Health Organization