Anxiety Disorders in Adults: Screening

The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening for anxiety disorders in adults age 64 years and younger who don’t have a diagnosed mental health disorder and aren’t showing signs or symptoms of anxiety disorders. This recommendation also applies to pregnant and postpartum people.

USPSTF found that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for anxiety disorders in older adults (age 65 years and older). Further research is also needed on the:

• Screening and treatment in populations defined by sex, race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity
• Direct benefits and harms of screening for anxiety disorders in primary care (or similar) settings, compared with no screening or usual care
• Diagnostic accuracy of screening tools that are feasible for use in primary care settings, including the accuracy of screening tools in pregnant and postpartum people
• Effectiveness of anxiety disorder treatment in pregnant and postpartum people
• Barriers to establishing adequate systems of care related to anxiety disorders and how these barriers can be addressed
• Prevalence of anxiety disorders