Experts Say US Adults Should Get Tested for Anxiety

Experts Say US Adults Should Get Tested for Anxiety

An influential¹ health guidelines group in the United States says doctors should test adult patients for anxiety, as part of usual care.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is an independent group of healthcare experts serving as volunteers.

The group advises anxiety testing for everyone from age 18 to 65. The group began its review on anxiety before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, given the increase in mental health problems with the pandemic, the new guidance is "very timely," said Lori Pbert.

As a member of the task force, Pbert is also a psychologist and researcher at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School. A story from the Associated Press on the task force's new guidelines states that anxiety disorders³ are among the most common mental health problems.

The task force notes that about 40 percent of American women are affected⁴ by anxiety at some point in their lives. About one in 10 pregnant women and those who have just given birth experience anxiety. Also, anxiety disorder² affects more than one in four men in the United States

Worldwide, anxiety is also on the rise -- especially among women.

Back in early March, the World Health Organization released a report on the situation of mental health disorders. That report states that in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, anxiety and depression increased by 25 percent around the world.

Anxiety can show as panic attacks, nervousness, and heightened fear.

Common testing tools include answering questions about symptoms during a primary care doctor visit, the task force said. One such question is "How often do fears and worries affect your usual activities?" The task force did not say how often patients should be tested.

Pbert said it is also important to understand that more than testing is necessary to identify an anxiety disorder. The next step, she said, is a thorough examination by a mental health professional. Pbert also noted⁵ that finding good care can be difficult. Currently in the U.S. there are shortages in the mental health care industry.

Megan Whaler is a 31-year-old from Hoboken, New Jersey⁶. In 2013, she was identified as having anxiety disorder.

Whaler says doctors should test mental health as commonly as physical health.

"Health is health," said Whalen, "whether the problem is visible or not."

She has gotten help from medicine and talk therapy. However, her symptoms worsened during the pandemic, and she temporarily moved back to her parent's home.

"The pandemic made me afraid to leave home -- my anxiety telling me anywhere outside of my childhood house was unsafe," Whelan said. She says she is still struggling.

The task force said there is not enough research on older adults to suggest anxiety testing in those older than 65.

In April, the group issued similar guidance for children.

General, or primary, care doctors in the U.S. already know of the increasing cases of anxiety. In 2020, a group connected with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists suggested that anxiety testing be part of usual care for patients starting at age 13.

Melissa Lewis-Duarte is a 42-year-old wellness coach and mother of three in Scottsdale, Arizona. She says deep, steady breathing, practicing meditation⁷, stating things for which she is thankful have all helped her anxiety.

"Doctors say 'make sure you're sleeping' ... 'control your stress'," she said, noting that it can be difficult to put self-care first.

"But," she added, "that (is) what (is) necessary."

Words in This Story

anxiety – n. a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent⁸ event or something with an uncertain outcome.

task force – n. a temporary grouping under one leader for the purpose of accomplishing a definite objective

panic attack – n. an episode of intense fear or apprehension⁹ that is of sudden onset¹⁰ and may occur for no apparent reason or as a reaction to an identifiable triggering stimulus¹¹ (as a stressful event)

symptom – n. a noticeable change in the body or its functions that indicates the presence of a disease or other disorder

visible – adj. capable of being seen

talk therapy – n. psychotherapy emphasizing conversation between therapist and patient

meditation – n. the act or an instance of planning or thinking quietly

1 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

2 disorder   

n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调

参考例句：

• When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
• It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

3 disorders   

n.混乱( disorder的名词复数 )；凌乱；骚乱；（身心、机能）失调

参考例句：

• Reports of anorexia and other eating disorders are on the increase. 据报告，厌食症和其他饮食方面的功能紊乱发生率正在不断增长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The announcement led to violent civil disorders. 这项宣布引起剧烈的骚乱。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

6 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

7 meditation   

n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录

参考例句：

• This peaceful garden lends itself to meditation.这个恬静的花园适于冥想。
• I'm sorry to interrupt your meditation.很抱歉，我打断了你的沉思。

8 imminent   

adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的

参考例句：

• The black clounds show that a storm is imminent.乌云预示暴风雨即将来临。
• The country is in imminent danger.国难当头。

9 apprehension   

n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑

参考例句：

• There were still areas of doubt and her apprehension grew.有些地方仍然存疑，于是她越来越担心。
• She is a girl of weak apprehension.她是一个理解力很差的女孩。

10 onset   

n.进攻，袭击，开始，突然开始

参考例句：

• The drug must be taken from the onset of the infection.这种药必须在感染的最初期就开始服用。
• Our troops withstood the onset of the enemy.我们的部队抵挡住了敌人的进攻。

11 stimulus   

n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物

参考例句：

• Regard each failure as a stimulus to further efforts.把每次失利看成对进一步努力的激励。
• Light is a stimulus to growth in plants.光是促进植物生长的一个因素。