Patricia B. Scott M.D. Comments on Surge in Anxiety Disorders

NEW YORK, NY, August 07, 2012 (Press-News.org) According to a recent report from Reuters, Americans in the 21st Century are truly living in an "age of anxiety." Reports of anxiety disorders and other forms of mental illness have skyrocketed, increasing 12-fold over the past three decades. Some psychiatrists and other medical professionals see this as a sign of the deepening sources of anxiety that permeate American society; others attribute it to the "pathologizing" of normal human emotions. The report, and the ensuing debate, have won the attention of psychiatrist Patricia B. Scott M.D., who has responded to the Reuters story with a press statement.

According to Dr. Scott, the concern that normal feelings have been pathologized, essentially stigmatized as mental illness, is a serious one, and not without merit. "Anxiety, like pain, often has a useful function in our lives and does not necessarily need treatment," she affirms.

That caveat aside, Patricia B. Scott M.D. also notes that anxiety disorders are very real, and for many patients they are truly disruptive to normal life. "The problem arises when the anxiety becomes so severe that it interferes with a patient's functioning," says Scott. "A phobic patient may not be able to leave the house, be alone, or drive, and this can be treated with behavior therapy."

Dr. Scott offers other examples of common mental illnesses and manifestations of anxiety. "Other patients may get panic attacks, which can feel as if the person is dying, or have trouble eating, sleeping or taking care of everyday matters," she explains. "These are the patients who are most likely to benefit from medication."

Scott says that while some psychiatric care providers may be too hasty in prescribing medication, these medicines are ultimately useful in a variety of cases.

"We use the SSRI's such as sertraline, and sometimes tranquillizers such as alprazolam," notes Patricia B. Scott M.D. "It is important to only start one medication at a time and only when it appears that the pros of trying the medication are greater than any potential side effects."

Even in cases that call for medication, Scott says, some precautions are in order. "All patients prescribed a psychiatric medication need to be monitored so that any problems can be detected and the medication can be changed or stopped if necessary," she warns.

The Reuters story says that, since 1980, the prevalence of reported anxiety disorders has risen by as much as 1,200 percent. In data collected in 2009, there were some 117 million U.S. adults who had sought treatment for anxiety disorders. That totals 49.5 percent of the population. The Reuters report echoes the words of Patricia B. Scott M.D., however, in noting the importance--and the difficulty--of distinguishing the truly sick from those simply experiencing normal feelings of stress.

ABOUT:

Dr. Patricia B. Scott M.D. is a healthcare provider based in California. Her areas of specialization are in psychiatric care and neuropsychiatry. Currently leading her own private practice, Dr. Scott formerly taught at the University of California.