By Lindsey Tanner
Associated Press
Doctors should regularly screen all adults under the age of 65 in the United States for anxiety, the Preventive Services Task Force, an influential group of experts that sets health guidelines for health authorities, proposed for the first time on Tuesday. federals.
He thus recommended screening for anxiety in primary care
for adults without symptoms
, an unprecedented proposal based on a review that began before the coronavirus pandemic of studies on the possible benefits and risks of these tests.
Given reports of rising mental health issues related to isolation and stress from COVID-19, the guidance is "very timely," said Lori Pbert, a task force member and a psychologist-researcher in the School of Chan Medicine from the University of Massachusetts.
A woman waits sitting on a hospital bedGetty Images
The task force reported that the benefits of diagnostics, including effective treatments, outweigh the risks, including inaccurate screening test results that could lead to unnecessary follow-up.
Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health problems, affecting 40% of women in the United States at some point in their lives and more than one in four men, Pbert said.
People of color, those living in poverty, those who have lost a significant other, and those with other mental health problems are among the adults most at risk of developing anxiety, which can manifest as panic attacks, phobias, or feelings of despondency. always be on the edge.
Additionally, about one in 10 pregnant and postpartum women experience anxiety.
An expert warns that physically reprimanding children can affect their self-esteem
Aug. 29, 202203:19
Common screening tools include questionnaires about symptoms such as fears and worries that interfere with normal activities.
According to the task force, the questionnaires can be easily administered in primary care, although it does not specify how often to screen patients.
"The most important thing is to recognize that a screening test alone is not enough to diagnose anxiety
," Pbert reported.
The next step is a more thorough evaluation by a mental health professional, although Pbert acknowledged that finding care in this area can be difficult given the shortage of specialists.
Megan Whalen, a 31-year-old marketing expert who was diagnosed with anxiety in 2013, says regular doctors should check for mental health issues as often as physical ones.
[Actor Ryan Reynolds lost a bet and underwent a test that saved his life]
“Health is health, whether the problem is visible or not,” said Whalen, of Hoboken, New Jersey.
He has been helped by medicine and talk therapy, but his symptoms worsened in the pandemic and she temporarily moved into her home.
Isolation affected the mental health of many during the pandemic.
California has a plan to fix it
Aug. 21, 202201:43
“The pandemic made me afraid to leave home, my anxiety told me that anywhere outside of my childhood home was unsafe,” Whelan said, “I still struggle with feelings of dread and fear at times.
It's just a part of my life right now, and I try to handle it the best I can."
The task force said there isn't enough solid research in older adults to recommend or not recommend screening for anxiety in those older than 65.
The researchers continue to recommend screening for depression in adults and children, but say there isn't enough evidence to assess the potential benefits and harms of screening for suicidality in adults who don't show worrying symptoms.
[This is the health impact of working long hours sitting or standing]
In April, the group issued similar draft guidance for children and adolescents, recommending screening for anxiety but stating that more research is needed on the potential benefits and harms of studies of suicide in children without obvious signs. .
The pandemic exacerbated anxiety and depression problems among children and adolescents in the country
Aug. 10, 202201:40
The task force's guidelines typically determine insurance coverage, but anxiety is already on the radar of many primary care physicians.
In 2020, a group affiliated with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommended routine screening for anxiety in women and girls starting at age 13.
Melissa Lewis-Duarte, a wellness coach in Scottsdale, Arizona, says rhythmic breathing, meditation, and making a daily list of three things she's grateful for have helped with her anxiety.
"Doctors say, 'Make sure you sleep, manage your stress.'
Yes, I understand, but not everyone knows how to do it," says the 42-year-old mother of three.
"It's hard to prioritize self-care, but it's necessary,"
she concludes.