Psychiatric Care — Washington, DC
Anxiety Disorder
Anxiety Disorder Treatment for Adolescents and Adults
Dr. Smita Patel provides comprehensive, evidence-based evaluation and treatment for anxiety disorders in adolescents and adults, integrating medication management with mindfulness-based approaches.
Understanding Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions in the United States, affecting approximately 31.1% of U.S. adults at some point in their lives, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Anxiety disorders also affect children and adolescents, making early evaluation and intervention critically important.
These disorders are characterized by excessive fear, worry, or nervousness that is difficult to control and significantly interferes with daily activities. Unlike the brief anxiety people feel in response to a stressful event, anxiety disorders are persistent and can worsen over time if left untreated.
Dr. Smita Patel provides comprehensive psychiatric evaluations to accurately diagnose anxiety disorders across the lifespan and develops individualized treatment plans that may include psychopharmacology, mindfulness-based techniques, and close collaboration with therapists and other healthcare providers.
31.1%
of U.S. adults experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives
19.1%
of U.S. adults had any anxiety disorder in the past year
31.9%
of adolescents aged 13–18 are affected by anxiety disorders
~1 in 3
children will experience significant anxiety during childhood
Source: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Types of Anxiety Disorders Treated
Dr. Patel provides expert evaluation and treatment for the full spectrum of anxiety disorders in adolescents and adults. Each condition is addressed through a comprehensive psychiatric assessment and individualized care plan.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder is characterized by persistent, excessive worry about a number of different things on most days for at least six months. People with GAD may anticipate disaster and may be overly concerned about health, money, family, work, or everyday matters.
Common symptoms include restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep disturbances. GAD affects 5.7% of U.S. adults at some point in their lives and is more prevalent in women than in men.
Panic Disorder
Panic disorder is characterized by recurrent and unexpected panic attacks — sudden surges of intense fear that reach a peak within minutes. Panic attacks involve physical symptoms such as a racing heart, chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, and feelings of impending doom.
Individuals with panic disorder often develop significant concern about future attacks and may change their behavior to avoid situations they associate with panic episodes. Panic disorder affects approximately 4.7% of U.S. adults in their lifetime.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Social Anxiety Disorder (also known as social phobia) involves an intense, persistent fear of being watched and judged by others. This fear can affect work, school, and everyday activities, making it difficult to make and keep friends.
People with social anxiety disorder may avoid social situations entirely or endure them with great distress. Social anxiety disorder affects approximately 12.1% of U.S. adults at some point in their lives and often begins in childhood or early adolescence.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is characterized by recurring, unwanted thoughts, ideas, or sensations (obsessions) that drive people to do something repetitively (compulsions). While OCD is classified separately from anxiety disorders in the DSM-5, it shares significant clinical overlap and is commonly treated alongside anxiety disorders.
Obsessions and compulsions can significantly interfere with all aspects of life including work, school, and personal relationships. OCD affects approximately 1.2% of U.S. adults in the past year. The condition often begins in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood.
Resource links above open to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) — an authoritative source for mental health information.
Schedule a Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation
If you or a family member are experiencing symptoms of an anxiety disorder, Dr. Smita Patel is available for thorough psychiatric evaluations via telemedicine or in-office at her Washington, DC office.
1629 K St. NW Suite 300, Washington, DC 20006 · Phone: 202-775-0620 · Fax: 240-366-5170 · office@drsmitapatel.com