This site has useful information for clients. Another excellent mental health information site is Mental Health Infosource. Anxiety and its manifestations, pp. The cultural context of anxiety disorders. Feelings of dread, worry, apprehension, or fear.
Anxiety is a symptom, anxiety disorders represent various syndromes.
Remember that anxiety is a symptom found in nearly all mental disorders. Only when it is the main symptom and requires mental health intervention does it warrant a DSM IV dx. Not a new illness - reports though out history of cases that today we would label anxiety disorders. Most patients present themselves to general medical settings with anxiety related somatic complaints. Psychological, biological, behavioral theories have all been used to explain anxiety disorders.