UNTREATED ANXIETY AMONG ADULT PRIMARY-CARE PATIENTS IN A HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION

Background: Untreated anxiety may be particularly difficult for primar y care physicians to recognize and diagnose because there are no relia ble demographic or medical profiles for patients with this condition a nd because these patients present with a high rate of comorbid psychol ogical conditions that complicate selection of treatment. Method: A pr ospective assessment of untreated anxiety symptoms and disorders among primary care patients. Results: Approximately 10% of eligible patient s screened in clinic waiting rooms of a mixed-model health maintenance organization reported elevated symptoms and/or disorders of anxiety t hat were unrecognized and untreated. These patients with untreated anx iety reported significantly worse functioning on both physical and emo tional measures than ''not anxious'' comparison patients; in fact thes e patients reported reduced functioning levels within ranges that woul d be expected for patients with chronic physical diseases, such as dia betes and congestive heart failure. The most severe reductions in func tioning were reported by untreated patients whose anxiety was mixed wi th depression symptoms or disorders. Conclusion: Primary care physicia ns may benefit from screening tools and consultations by mental health specialists to assist in recognition and diagnosis of anxiety symptom s and disorders alone and mixed with depression.