Public-health reports and research briefs

Psychiatric wait times in the United States

Wait times for new outpatient psychiatric appointments often stretch beyond four weeks. Delays are longer in rural areas and for in-network providers.

Anxiety treatment access by state

Mental health workforce density and insurance acceptance vary dramatically across the 50 states and DC. Rural states often sit far below national averages.

Insurance acceptance trends in psychiatry

Psychiatrists accept insurance at lower rates than other medical specialties. Parity laws have produced incremental change rather than a transformation.

2026-05-18 · 8 sources

Telepsychiatry and anxiety care

Telepsychiatry expanded sharply after 2020 and now accounts for a substantial share of outpatient psychiatric visits, with outcomes comparable to in-person care in many studies.

2026-05-18 · 9 sources

Rural and urban access disparities

More than 60% of U.S. rural counties lack a psychiatrist. Telepsychiatry has narrowed but not closed the rural access gap.

Nebraska's psychiatrist desert: 82 counties, no psychiatrist

Only 11 of Nebraska's 93 counties have a practicing psychiatrist. A sourced look at mental health care access across the state in 2026.

2026-07-03 · 9 sources

Mental health care access in Maine: what the data shows in 2026

Maine ranks 2nd in the nation for mental health care access, yet meets only 14.4 percent of its psychiatric need. A sourced look at the numbers behind the wait.

2026-07-03 · 8 sources

Epidemiology

Who experiences anxiety disorders, with what frequency, and alongside what other conditions.

Anxiety symptoms by age group

Anxiety symptom rates are highest in young adults and decline with age in most national surveys. Adolescent anxiety has trended upward over the past decade.

Anxiety prevalence by sex

Women have roughly double the past-year prevalence of most anxiety disorders compared with men in U.S. national surveys.

Anxiety and substance use

Anxiety disorders and substance use disorders co-occur at high rates. Alcohol use disorder is the most common comorbid SUD in U.S. survey data.

Anxiety and chronic illness

Anxiety prevalence is elevated in cardiovascular disease, diabetes, COPD, cancer, and chronic pain populations. Comorbidity affects adherence and outcomes.

Anxiety and depression overlap

The majority of adults with current major depression also meet criteria for at least one anxiety disorder. Comorbidity predicts greater impairment and longer time to remission.

Anxiety symptoms in college students

Anxiety is the most common reason college students seek mental health services. Campus counseling utilization has grown faster than counseling capacity.

Healthcare utilization

How anxiety presents in emergency rooms, primary care, and hospital admissions.

Panic attacks and emergency-care use

Acute anxiety and panic presentations recur in U.S. emergency departments, often first appearing as chest pain or cardiac-like symptoms.

Anxiety in primary care

Primary care is the most common first point of contact for adults seeking help with anxiety. Most U.S. anxiety pharmacotherapy is prescribed by non-psychiatric clinicians.

Psychiatric hospitalization trends

U.S. psychiatric inpatient capacity has declined over decades. Readmission rates remain high and emergency department boarding of psychiatric patients is a documented system problem.

Functional impact

What anxiety costs at work, school, in sleep, and in relationships.

Anxiety and work impairment

Anxiety disorders are associated with measurable absenteeism and presenteeism. Burden-of-illness estimates put U.S. productivity costs in the tens of billions annually.

Anxiety and school absenteeism

Anxiety disorders contribute to chronic absenteeism in adolescents. School refusal is a recognized clinical presentation and school-based mental health programs improve attendance.

Anxiety and sleep disruption

Insomnia is among the most common anxiety symptoms. CBT for insomnia has strong evidence in comorbid presentations.

Anxiety and relationship impairment

Anxiety disorders affect partner, family, and parenting relationships in measurable ways. Couple- and family-based interventions can complement individual treatment.