Generalized Anxiety Disorder Affects More Than One in Ten U.S. Adults | AMCP Nexus 2025

It was found that more than one in ten adults in the United States were affected by generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) between 2021 and 2023, with annual rates continuing to rise, according to a poster presentation shared at the annual AMCP Nexus conference.

GAD is a chronic mental health condition caused by persistent and uncontrollable worry that can interfere with daily functioning and reduce quality of life. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), GAD involves excessive anxiety about everyday events or activities, such as work or school, that occur more days than not for at least six months. Those with GAD often find it difficult to control their worry, leading to significant impairment in social or occupational functioning.

Although GAD affects many people, previous estimates of how common it is in the U.S. have varied and are often out of date. NIMH reported that about 2.7% of U.S. adults have GAD in a given year, and 5.7% will have it at some point in their lives.

The disorder is more common in women, affecting 3.4% of women compared to 1.9% of men. Among adults with GAD, about one-third have serious problems in daily life, 44.6% have moderate problems and about one-quarter have mild problems. Teenagers can also have GAD, with roughly 2.2% of those aged 13 to 18 meeting the criteria.

Analyzing the existing data, researchers of the study presented at AMCP from MindMed, Trinity Life Sciences and other academic institutions sought to provide an updated and clearer picture of GAD prevalence and incidence using real-world data.

To achieve this, researchers conducted a retrospective analysis using the Komodo Healthcare Map database, which includes insurance claims for millions of U.S. patients. They identified adults diagnosed with GAD through ICD-10 codes and prescriptions for GAD-related medications.

Prevalence and incidence were calculated using payer-complete claims data, then adjusted to reflect the broader U.S. population using Census data. Patients had to be continuously enrolled for the duration of the study period and new cases were defined as those without a prior GAD diagnosis for at least two years.

Study results showed a steady increase in diagnosed cases over time.

The one-year prevalence rose from 5.4% (13.3 million adults) in 2020 to 6.6% (16.4 million adults) in 2023. Across the three-year period from 2021 to 2023, an estimated 25.3 million adults—about 10.3% of the U.S. adult population—were affected by GAD.

It was also revealed that newly diagnosed cases increased each year, from 2,082 per 100,000 adults in 2020 to 2,267 per 100,000 in 2023. Most of these patients were women (67.4%) with a median age of 41 years and a mean age of 43.7. Most were commercially insured (60.6%), while 21.5% were covered by Medicare and 17.9% by Medicaid.

The researchers stressed that this study provides one of the most current and detailed estimates of GAD in the U.S., highlighting the disorder’s growing burden.

A major strength of the research is its use of a large, nationally representative claims database that captures real-world diagnosis patterns across payer types. However, limitations include the reliance on claims data, which may miscount undiagnosed folks or misclassify cases due to coding differences.

These findings highlight the urgent need for expanded screening, diagnosis and treatment access for anxiety disorders. Authors suggest that future research should explore the clinical, economic, and humanistic impacts of GAD to better inform healthcare policy and patient care strategies.