More research needed into anxiety disorders, study says

According to a global review of anxiety disorders, more research is needed to help raise awareness of the condition, which it says is more common then previously thought.

The research, conducted by the University of Cambridge, highlighted that young people under 35 and those with health problems were particularly affected by the condition. The study estimated that four per cent of people were affected by anxiety.

The review, published in Brain and Behaviour, called for more research to find out which other communities were at risk from suffering from the condition. It warned that over 60 million people were affected by anxiety disorders every year in the EU. The researchers said that, unlike depression, which is a widely researched topic, anxiety has not been given the same attention.

Review author Olivia Remes, from the department of public health and primary care at the University of Cambridge, said: “There has been a lot of focus on depression - which is important - but anxiety is equally important and debilitating; it can lead to the development of other diseases and psychiatric disorders, increase the risk for suicide and is associated with high costs to society."

She added: "It is important for our health services to understand how common they are and which groups of people are at greatest risk."

Stephen Buckley, head of information at mental health charity Mind, commented: ”Many people wait too long before seeing their GP, discounting social anxiety as just day-to-day stress. But it's not the same as being 'a bit shy' and it's important to seek help as soon as possible if you feel like your anxiety is interfering with your ability to do the things you normally would."