U.S. doctors should regularly screen all adults under 65 for anxiety, an influential health guidelines group proposed Tuesday.
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Black people, those living in poverty, people who have lost partners and those who have other mental health issues are among the adults who face higher risks for developing anxiety, which can manifest as panic attacks, phobias or feeling always on edge. In addition, about 1 in 10 pregnant and postpartum women experience anxiety.Public health experts say universal mental health screenings are integral in the youth mental health crisis. But most kids aren’t getting them.
“The most important thing to recognize is that a screening test alone is not sufficient to diagnose anxiety,” Pbert said. The next step is a more thorough evaluation by a mental health professional, though Pbert acknowledged that finding mental health care can be difficult given shortages of specialists.