How do you quickly differentiate between the common anxiety disorders?

⚪ Clinical pearl: Focusing on the central fear or worry is key to distinguishing between anxiety phenotypes. For Generalized Anxiety Disorder, look for persistent and excessive worry about a variety of topics. For Panic Disorder, the defining feature is spontaneous panic attacks coupled with ongoing worry about having additional attacks. Social Anxiety Disorder is marked by an intense fear of scrutiny and negative evaluation in social situations. Finally, Specific Phobias are characterized by an irrational fear related to a specific object or situation.

🔗 To learn more about this pearl, check out the Carlat Article: https://www.thecarlatreport.com/articles/5230-managing-treatment-resistant-anxiety-disorders-in-older-adults