Quality of life in the anxiety disorders

Although quality of life (QOL) issues have long been recognized in severe psychiatric disorders, they have only recently come to be considered for the anxiety disorders. Conceptual and methodological developments in the study of QOL are briefly outlined, and the overlap among measures of QOL, functional impairment, and disability is discussed. Existing empirical studies on subjective and objective QOL dimensions in each of the anxiety disorders are then reviewed. QOL has been examined in panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder but has received little attention in generalized anxiety disorder and specific phobia. Despite substantial evidence showing that the anxiety disorders are associated with impaired QOL, data are scarce concerning the impact of treatments on QOL in many of the anxiety disorders. Future research on QOL in the anxiety disorders would benefit from greater conceptual clarity and methodological consistency, the use of prospective research designs, greater attention to QOL as a treatment outcome, and consideration of QOL in the caregiver and the family as well as the patient.