Chapter 84 - Anxiety Disorders in Women

Abstract

Evidence from clinical and community studies reveals a two-fold higher rate of anxiety disorders among women than men. This risk is evident across the lifespan. Anxiety disorders are the most common class of mental disorder, with nearly one-third of women and one-fifth of men meeting lifetime criteria for one of the subtypes of anxiety. Women also experience a greater range of subtypes of anxiety than men. Anxiety disorders tend to co-occur with other classes of mental disorders, including mood disorders and substance use disorders across the lifespan. The onset of anxiety disorders typically occurs in childhood and the incidence rates remain fairly stable across adulthood. Anxiety disorders are highly familial, with both genetic vulnerability factors and environmental exposures contributing to the aggregation of these conditions. Furthermore, sex differences have been observed in various risk factors for anxiety disorders, ranging from psychosocial factors to temperament and biological factors. Although women are more likely than men to be affected by anxiety disorders, they may be less likely to obtain specialty mental health treatment for their conditions. This work highlights the need for more research that systematically examines sex differences in vulnerability, manifestation, causes and consequences of anxiety disorders.