Estimated mean age of onset of different anxiety disorders: evidence from meta-analysis of 24 studies

In this meta-analysis of 24 epidemiological studies of anxiety disorders, the estimated mean age of onset for anxiety disorders was 21.3 years and did not differ between men and women.¹ As evidenced by the nonoverlapping confidence intervals of their estimates, separation anxiety disorder, specific phobia, and social anxiety disorder have a significantly earlier onset than other anxiety disorders, and generalized anxiety disorder has a significantly later onset compared with separation anxiety disorder, specific phobia, and social anxiety disorder, and with agoraphobia without panic disorder, and OCD.¹

AwPD=agoraphobia without panic disorder; CI=confidence interval; GAD=generalized anxiety disorder; OCD=obsessive compulsive disorder; PD=panic disorder; PTSD=post-traumatic stress disorder; SAD=social anxiety disorder