The prevalence of anxiety disorder due to an other medical condition is unclear. There ap-
pears to be an elevated prevalence of anxi ety disorders among individuals with a variety
of medical conditions, including asthma, hypert ension, ulcers, and arthritis. However, this
increased prevalence may be due to reasons ot her than the anxiety disorder directly caus-
ing the medical condition. 
Development and Course
The development and course of anxiety diso rder due to another medical condition gen-
erally follows the course of the underlying illness. This diagnosis is not meant to include
primary anxiety disorders that arise in the co ntext of chronic medical illness. This is im-
portant to consider with older adults, who may experience chronic medical illness and
then develop independent anxiety disorder s secondary to the chronic medical illness.
Diagnostic Markers
Laboratory assessments and/or medical examin ations are necessary to confirm the diag-
nosis of the associated medical condition. 
Differential Diagnosis
Delirium. A separate diagnosis of anxiety disord er due to another medical condition is
not given if the anxiety disturbance occurs exclusively during the course of a delirium.
However, a diagnosis of anxiety disorder du e to another medical condition may be given
in addition to a diagnosis of major neurocognitive disorder (dementia) if the etiology of
anxiety is judged to be a physiological consequence of the pathological process causing the
neurocognitive disorder and if anxiety is a prominent part of the clinical presentation. 
Mixed presentation of symptoms (e.g., mood and anxiety). If the presentation includes
a mix of different types of symptoms, the spec ific mental disorder due to another medical
condition depends on which symptoms predominate in the clinical picture.
Substance/medication-induced anxiety disorder. If there is evidence of recent or pro-