Guideline Central2024 APA Annual Meeting Recap: Anxiety Disorders

Research presented at the APA 2024 Annual Meeting highlights advancements in understanding and managing generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), comorbidities, and related psychological conditions, offering insights into effective treatments and the broader implications for clinical practice.

The American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) 2024 Annual Meeting showcased significant research developments in psychiatry, with a particular focus on anxiety-related disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and its associated comorbidities. This article summarizes key findings from various studies presented at the event, emphasizing practical implications for clinical practice and highlighting innovative treatment approaches.

Key Points:

1. Rapid and Durable Response to MM120 in GAD:
   • Evaluated the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of MM-120 (D-lysergic acid diethylamide D-tartrate) in GAD patients.
   • Both 100µg and 200µg doses demonstrated clinically and statistically significant efficacy.
   • Findings suggest a rapid, robust, and durable clinical response to MM-120 in GAD patients.
2. Meditation vs. Escitalopram on Work Performance in Anxiety Disorders:
   • Compared the impact of psychopharmacotherapy (escitalopram) and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on absenteeism and job performance.
   • MBSR was found to improve work performance equivalently to SSRI medication among individuals with anxiety disorders.
3. Benzodiazepine Tapering and Mood Stabilizers:
   • Conducted a literature review on current benzodiazepine tapering practices and challenges in outpatient detoxification.
   • Emphasized the role of mood stabilizers as adjuncts in reducing misuse and dependence on benzodiazepines.
4. Burden of Undiagnosed GAD in US Adults:
   • Assessed the economic and humanistic burden of undiagnosed GAD in the US adult population.
   • Highlighted the significant impact of undiagnosed GAD on individuals and the healthcare system.
5. Screening for Undiagnosed GAD in the US Population:
   • Quantified the prevalence of undiagnosed GAD in the US adult population.
   • Nearly a quarter of the population screened positive for GAD, with 83.1% undiagnosed, highlighting a substantial unmet need.
6. Antipsychotic Agents in Anxiety Disorders:
   • Evaluated the efficacy of FGAs and SGAs in anxiety disorders as adjunctive treatments.
   • Found limited high-quality studies outside of quetiapine in GAD, with potential risks and side effects outweighing benefits.
7. Coping Mechanisms and Mental Health in Healthcare Staff Post-COVID-19:
   • Investigated coping strategies among non-physician healthcare staff and their associations with depression and anxiety post-pandemic.
   • Identified coping by avoidance linked to both depression and anxiety, while substance use was more specific to depression and social support to anxiety.
8. Anxiety Disorders in OCD and OCD+OCPD:
   • Explored the prevalence of anxiety disorders in OCD with and without comorbid OCPD.
   • Found increased anxiety disorders in OCD+OCPD compared to OCD alone, with significant implications for treatment approaches.
9. Impact of School Closures on Anxiety and Depression in Children:
   • Reviewed literature on the effects of school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s mental health.
   • Highlighted increased anxiety and depressive symptoms, particularly in under-represented minority groups.
10. Inflammatory Predictors of Postpartum Anxiety:
    • Examined the relationship between prenatal inflammation and postpartum anxiety.
    • Suggested a link between elevated prenatal cytokines and postpartum anxiety, warranting further research into maternal immune activation’s role in mood disorders.

In one of these poster sessions, it was revealed that nearly a quarter of the US general adult population screened positive for GAD. A large majority, 83.1%, of those were undiagnosed (approximately 49 million adults).

More on Mental Health