The Epidemiology of Anxiety

In a literature review the best estimates for prevalence of anxiety disorders were determined to be 3% for panic, 6% for agoraphobia, 3% for generalized anxiety, 2.5% for simple phobia, and 1.5% for social phobia. Anxiety disorders tended to have a 2:1 female preponderance. Age of onset was 17 years for social and simple phobia, 22 years for generalized anxiety, and 26 years for panic and agoraphobia. Simple phobia was found to respond best to behavioral treatment and to have a good prognosis. Panic and agoraphobia were found to be familial, to have a chronic course, and to respond best to a combination of pharmacological and behavioral treatment.