Persistent anxiety disorders: who is most at risk?

Description

More than a quarter of us will experience an anxiety disorder at some point in our lives (Kessler et al 2005). These disorders disrupt lives and are costly for society (Fineberg et al 2003). Some people who experience anxiety disorders recover naturally, but many experience significant difficulties with anxiety on an ongoing or reoccurring basis. Those with persistent anxiety disorders may be particularly likely to benefit from treatment or intervention.

Understanding who is most likely to develop persistent anxiety disorders would help inform targeted prevention and early intervention. However, relatively little research has focused specifically on risk factors for persistent anxiety disorders (rather than risks for initial onset). Individual studies also tend to only focus on a small number of risks in a particular population or setting, which limits our ability to draw firm conclusions.