Anxiety and the Effects on Cardiovascular Disease

Anxiety disorders have been implicated with the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) for more than 100 years; however, empirical research and intervention efforts have largely been overshadowed by a focus on depression in recent times. This chapter focuses on anxiety disorders' prevalence in CVDs. The associations between anxiety disorder subtypes with major clinical outcomes pertinent to cardiovascular function are also described. An emerging literature indicates that anxiety disorders increase the risk for development of CVD and major cardiovascular complications in persons already with CVD. The risk for cardiovascular events is independent from depression. Anxiety disorders therefore hold relevance for uncovering discrete mechanisms of cardiopathogenesis, novel therapeutic strategies, and initiating clinical interventions in the population at risk of developing heart disease or those already diagnosed with cardiovascular diseases.