Research Paper Title

Anxiety Disorders, Active Component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2000-2012.

Abstract

Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress; however, in individuals with anxiety disorder, the anxiety becomes chronic and exaggerated, and affects the physical and psychological health of the individual. The main types of anxiety disorders are generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), phobias, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Incident diagnoses of anxiety disorders among active component service members steadily increased from 2000 to 2012. A majority of incident anxiety disorder diagnoses were “non-specific” anxiety disorders (ICD-9-CM codes: 300.0, 300.00, or 300.09) and over 75 percent of service members diagnosed with “non-specific” anxiety disorders did not have a more specific anxiety disorder diagnosis during subsequent medical encounters.

Incidence rates of anxiety disorders were highest among females, white, non-Hispanics, in the youngest age groups, and among recruits and junior enlisted service members.

About one-third of anxiety disorder cases also had a co-occurring diagnosis of either adjustment or depressive disorder within one year before or after the incident anxiety disorder encounter.

Reference

Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center (2014) Anxiety Disorders, Active Component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2000-2012. MSMR. 20(10), pp.4-6.