Anxiety Disorder due to Another Medical Condition

Prevalence

  • The prevalence of anxiety disorder due to another medical condition is unclear.

  • There appears to be an elevated prevalence of anxiety disorders among individuals with a variety of medical conditions (e.g., asthma, hypertension, ulcers, and arthritis).

However, this increased prevalence may be due to reasons other than the anxiety disorder directly causing the medical condition.

Symptoms

  • Panic attacks or anxiety is predominant in the clinical picture.

  • There is evidence from the history, physical examination, or laboratory findings that the disturbance is the direct pathophysiological consequence of another medical condition.

  • The disturbance is not better explained by another mental disorder.

  • The disturbance does not occur exclusively during the course of a delirium.

  • The disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.