Epidemiology and psychopharmacology of anxiety in medical patients

Abstract

A wide variety of comorbid anxiety disorders have been described in patients with medical disorders, with the most common being adjustment disorder with anxiety, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. This article briefly reviews representative studies of the prevalence of anxiety disorders in several medical conditions, placing emphasis on cardiovascular, pulmonary, cerebrovascular, and dermatologic disease. Psychotropic medications appropriate for the treatment of anxiety disorders in these medical-psychiatric populations (benzodiazepines, cyclic antidepressants, and buspirone) as well as beta-adrenergic blocking agents and antihistamines are discussed with an emphasis on pharmacokinetic and drug interactions of major clinical importance for the medically ill patient.