Is anxiety classified as a disease or a medical condition? Find out what the DSM-5 says about anxiety disorders.
No, anxiety is not a disease,per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5). Anxiety is unsubstantiated fear or worry about a specific situation. Anxiety disorders aremental conditionsthat cause people excessive and extreme worry, fear and stress. Having anxiety does not mean someone has an anxiety disorder. Feeling anxious about a specific situation is common, but persistent anxiousness is what qualifies as a medical condition.
However,anxiety disorderis not a disease, either. The DSM-5 distinguishes disease from disorder by classifying disease as a disorder where the genesis is known. The DSM-5 classifies a disorder as a group of connected symptoms that do not have a known origin. Anxiety, according to the DSM-5, is considered a disorder since it involves many symptoms that do not have specific originations.
Is Anxiety a Medical Condition?
Anxiety on its own is not a medical condition but anxiety disorder is. Having anxiety disorder causes people to have negative views of themselves, their relationships with other people and other aspects of their life.
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