Anxiety disorders are one of the most prevalent
psychiatric disorders, with lifetime prevalence
rates of up to 00% in the population (Kessler,
0000). The main anxiety disorders that could be
the focus of attention for labor and researchers
include panic disorder (PD), agoraphobia, social
anxiety disorder (SAD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder
(OCD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD),
acute stress disorder (ASD), and specific phobias
(SP). PD is the fear of experiencing out of the
blue physical sensations of anxiety (known as
panic attacks). Agoraphobia is characterized by
anxiety of places where escape may be dif fi cult
in the event that an individual has a panic attack.
SAD is an excessive fear of being negatively
evaluated in social or performance situations.
GAD is characterized by excessive and uncontrollable worry that leads to somatic and cognitive symptoms of anxiety. OCD is characterized
by obsessions, which are intrusive and distressing thoughts and images that cause anxiety, and
compulsions, which are thoughts or behaviors
designed to reduce this anxiety. PTSD is characterized by intrusive thoughts about a past trauma,
avoidance of such thoughts, emotional numbing,
and physical sensations of anxiety. ASD also
involves anxiety about a trauma, although can
only be diagnosed within the first month following the event. Specific phobias are excessive fears
of particular objects or situations.