The prevalence of severe anxiety disorders is much lower, however. Depression is a common companion in such children. With the exception of OCD and possibly social anxiety, women have twice the risk for most anxiety disorders than men do. A number of factors may increase the risk in women, including hormonal factors, cultural pressures to meet everyone else's needs except their own, and fewer self-restrictions on reporting anxiety to physicians. Family History .
Anxiety disorders run in families.
Although family dynamics and psychologic influences are often at work, genetic factors may also play a role in many cases. Studies have suggested that extremely shy children and those likely to be the target of bullies are at higher risk for developing anxiety disorders later in life. One study suggests that such children could be identified as early as two years of age and possibly treated to avoid later anxiety disorders. Socioeconomic Factors . And the longer the immigrants lived in the U.S. the greater was their risk for psychiatric problems.