Skip to main content
Full access
Reviews
Published Online: 10 April 2017

Anxiety Disorders and General Medical Conditions: Current Research and Future Directions

Abstract

Evidence that anxiety disorders are associated with general medical conditions is growing. While it is known that medical and mental conditions are often comorbid, research demonstrates that there may be underlying causal mechanisms. Furthermore, comorbid anxiety and general medical conditions are associated with poorer patient outcomes than either condition alone. Comorbid general medical and mental disorders not only affect individual patient health but also strain existing medical systems. Growing health care expenditures and increasing time pressures on clinicians create a challenging environment for intensive therapy in traditional settings. Effective screening, diagnosis, and treatment of individuals with comorbid conditions require health systems that are based on interprofessional collaboration, including integrative and collaborative care services. These models encourage the provision of patient care within a network of health care professionals, working together and sharing expertise for more efficient and holistic care. Research on the design and implementation of these systems within the context of anxiety disorders and comorbid general medical conditions is in its infancy. Given the staggeringly high rates of anxiety disorders within the general population and the continued rise of many chronic medical conditions coinciding with the increasing lifespan, mental health and primary care providers should consider how they might implement integrative care methods within their own practice.

Formats available

You can view the full content in the following formats:

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

History

Published in print: Spring 2017
Published online: 10 April 2017

Keywords

  1. Anxiety & anxiety disorders
  2. Collaborative care
  3. Integrative care
  4. Comorbidity
  5. Healthcare Systems
  6. Review

Authors

Details

Joshua P. Aquin, B.Sc.
Mr. Aquin is a medical student at the Max Rady College of Medicine; Dr. El-Gabalawy is an assistant professor, Department of Anesthesia, Perioperative Medicine, Clinical Health Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychology; Dr. Sala is the medical program director, Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program of the Health Sciences Centre, and assistant professor, Department of Psychiatry; and Dr. Sareen is a professor of Psychiatry in the Departments of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Community Health Sciences, all at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Renée El-Gabalawy, Ph.D.
Mr. Aquin is a medical student at the Max Rady College of Medicine; Dr. El-Gabalawy is an assistant professor, Department of Anesthesia, Perioperative Medicine, Clinical Health Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychology; Dr. Sala is the medical program director, Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program of the Health Sciences Centre, and assistant professor, Department of Psychiatry; and Dr. Sareen is a professor of Psychiatry in the Departments of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Community Health Sciences, all at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Tanya Sala, M.D.
Mr. Aquin is a medical student at the Max Rady College of Medicine; Dr. El-Gabalawy is an assistant professor, Department of Anesthesia, Perioperative Medicine, Clinical Health Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychology; Dr. Sala is the medical program director, Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program of the Health Sciences Centre, and assistant professor, Department of Psychiatry; and Dr. Sareen is a professor of Psychiatry in the Departments of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Community Health Sciences, all at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Jitender Sareen, M.D.
Mr. Aquin is a medical student at the Max Rady College of Medicine; Dr. El-Gabalawy is an assistant professor, Department of Anesthesia, Perioperative Medicine, Clinical Health Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychology; Dr. Sala is the medical program director, Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program of the Health Sciences Centre, and assistant professor, Department of Psychiatry; and Dr. Sareen is a professor of Psychiatry in the Departments of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Community Health Sciences, all at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Notes

Send correspondence to Dr. Sareen (e-mail: [email protected]).

Funding Information

Dr. Sareen reports holding stock in Johnson & Johnson and consulting for UpToDate. The other authors report no financial relationships with commercial interests.

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Export Citations

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu.

Format
Citation style
Style
Copy to clipboard

View Options

View options

PDF/EPUB

View PDF/EPUB

Full Text

View Full Text

Get Access

Login options

Already a subscriber? Access your subscription through your login credentials or your institution for full access to this article.

Personal login Institutional Login Open Athens login
Purchase Options

Purchase this article to access the full text.

PPV Articles - Focus

PPV Articles - Focus

Not a subscriber?

Subscribe Now / Learn More

PsychiatryOnline subscription options offer access to the DSM-5-TR® library, books, journals, CME, and patient resources. This all-in-one virtual library provides psychiatrists and mental health professionals with key resources for diagnosis, treatment, research, and professional development.

Need more help? PsychiatryOnline Customer Service may be reached by emailing [email protected] or by calling 800-368-5777 (in the U.S.) or 703-907-7322 (outside the U.S.).

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Share article link

Share