Stakeholder Insight: Anxiety Disorders - More Than Just a Comorbidity

Introduction

Anxiety disorders are considered the most prevalent of psychiatric disorders. However, poor diagnosis rates and treatment outcomes mean that there is still considerable scope for manufacturers to move into the anxiety market. Based on 180 interviews with primary care physicians and psychiatrists, this report will analyze the commercial opportunities in the anxiety disorders market

Scope

• Prevalence and diagnosis rates of anxiety disorders (including prevalence of comorbidity with other psychiatric disorders)
• In-depth analysis of first- and second-line treatment choices
• Key differences in treatment practices for acute versus chronic anxiety and comorbid anxiety
• Evaluation of key attributes influencing drug choice and physician perception of current drug therapies to identify greatest unmet needs in treatment

Highlights

Despite a fifth of the total population across the seven major markets suffering from an anxiety disorder only a quarter of these individuals are diagnosed and therefore treated. As a result, drug manufacturers are failing to maximize revenues from the anxiety disorders market. Investment in awareness campaigns is essential.

Paroxetine is the gold standard treatment for anxiety disorders across the seven major markets. Nonetheless, opportunities still exist for manufacturers to gain market share in anxiety disorders and countries where the uptake of paroxetine has been less marked.

With almost a third of patients requiring second-line therapy, there is a significant need for anxiety drugs with improved efficacy. Drug developers must begin investing in clinical trials for anxiety specific drugs that demonstrate improved efficacy over current therapies.

Reasons to Purchase

• Assess the size of the drug-treated population by gaining an understanding of the prevalence of anxiety with comorbid psychiatric disorders
• Target physicians more effectively, through an understanding of prescribing behavior
• Identify commercial opportunities by benchmarking current products and assessing unmet needs and future market potential