Anxiety disorders, which may constitute anywhere from one quarter to o
ne half of all mental illnesses in the community, are most commonly se
en in the primary care sector. Despite their significant impact on the
functioning of individual patients, the plethora of unnecessary medic
al procedures to which these sufferers are subjected, and the large in
direct economic burden, these disorders continue to be grossly underdi
agnosed and undertreated in this sector. Effective treatments for anxi
ety disorders have been available for at least two decades. Concerted
efforts by the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Psychiatric
Association and similar organizations are needed to change this pictur
e.