WebMD Health News Louise Chang, MD March 5, 2007 -- Nearly one-
fifth of patients in health clinics may have anxiety disorders,
and many of them aren't getting help for their anxiety disorder,
a new study suggests. Anxiety disorders go beyond normal anxiety
or fear. Here's how the National Institute of Mental Health
describes common types of anxiety disorders: Anxiety has long
been known to be a common mental health problem. The new study
spotlights a brief survey that doctors could use to help screen
patients for anxiety disorders. The study appears in the Annals
of Internal Medicine. The researchers included Kurt Kroenke, MD,
of the Regenstrief Institute for Health Care in Indianapolis.
They studied 965 patients at family practice or internal
medicine health clinics in 12 states. The patients were 18-87
years old (average age: 47); most were white women. Kroenke's
team developed a seven-item survey to gauge patients' anxiety,
nervousness, worrying, irritability, inability to relax, and
fear during the previo