The truth about the anxiety epidemic
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Health Panel: US Adults Need Routine Anxiety Screening
Last updated Sep 21, 2022
Image credit: Washington Post illustration/Unsplash [via The Washington Post]Facts
- Following the conclusion of a review that started before COVID, the US Preventive Services Task Force on Tuesday recommended that US doctors regularly screen all adults under 65 for anxiety.[1]
- Anxiety disorders are some of the most common mental health problems in the US. According to Lori Pbert, a task force member and co-author of the report, roughly 40% of women in the US, and more than one in four men, will face an issue with anxiety at some point in their lives.[2]
- Some ethnic and social groups are at more risk than others - including Black people, people living in poverty, and those who have lost partners.[3]
- Pbert stated that the recommendation was "very timely," considering the reported surge in mental health problems associated with pandemic isolation and stress. The task force has said that such reform could help clinicians register early signs of anxiety, which can often go years without a diagnosis.[3]
- The report doesn't advise introducing the screening for those over 65, primarily because many symptoms of aging - including trouble sleeping, pain, and fatigue - are also common symptoms of anxiety.[3]
- The group previously issued guidance recommending similar screening for children and adolescents. The task force is an influential [and independent] organization that develops health guidelines.[4]
Spin
Right narrative
While it's good that society takes mental illness seriously, now even the most mundane irritations are hastily attributed to underlying clinical issues. "Safetyism," "microaggressions," "identity politics," and "intersectionality" have weakened people's resilience to the point that they can't cope with being offended or challenged. This rampant overdiagnosis needs to stop.
Left narrative
This isn't about so-called "overdiagnosis." There was a genuine and rapid rise in mental health pressures during the pandemic due to the virus and related stressors. Adults across the US are at risk, and proactive screening would help many receive the specialist care they require and deserve to protect their quality of life.
Nerd narrative
There is a 70% chance that psilocybin will be an accepted treatment for end-of-life anxiety by January 1st, 2027, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
