title: Two-year course of generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder with agoraphobia in a sample of Latino adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It is imperative to study the clinical course of anxiety disorders among Latinos, given the implications for culturally sensitive treatment in this population. The current study is the first prospective, observational, longitudinal study of anxiety disorders among Latinos.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data are reported on 139 adult Latinos (M age = 34.65 years, SD = 10.98, 70.5% female) diagnosed with social anxiety disorder (SAD; n = 86), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD; n = 90), or panic disorder with agoraphobia (PDA; n = 62). The participants were interviewed with standardized clinical interviews at intake and annually over 2 years of follow-up. Probabilities of recovery were calculated using standard survival analysis methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 2-year recovery rates in this study were 0.07 for SAD, 0.14 for GAD, 0.03 for PDA, and 0.50 for major depressive disorder (MDD). Overall functioning, social adjustment, and life satisfaction in this sample were poor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The recovery rates for anxiety disorders in this Latino sample were markedly low. Although caution must be used in comparing these data with prior longitudinal studies, these recovery rates seem to be much lower than in non-Latino White samples. However, the clinical course of MDD in this sample was similar to its course among non-Latino Whites, invoking the pressing question of whether there is something about the experience of anxiety disorders (but not MDD) among Latinos that makes them more impairing and persistent. The answer to that question should inform future treatment development for this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Iceland.
authors.forename: Andri S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Bjornsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Sibrava
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School.
authors.forename: Courtney
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beard
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
authors.forename: Ethan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moitra
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
authors.forename: Risa B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Weisberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational and Psychological Studies, University of Miami.
authors.forename: Carlos I Pérez
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Benítez
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
authors.forename: Martin B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Keller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
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