Anxiety is everywhere – and for many Americans, it is a lifelong companion. According to Our World in Data long-term surveys, around one-third of people in the United States will experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives.
Real-world statistics on anxiety treatment in the U.S.
Anxiety disorders remain one of the most common mental health challenges in the United States. Recent estimates suggest that around 6.2% of the U.S. population lives with some form of anxiety disorder. For Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) specifically, about 6.8 million adults – roughly 3.1% of the adult population – are affected, yet less than half receive treatment. While anxiety is widespread, treatment patterns vary significantly across the country. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that in 2020, 16.5% of U.S. adults reported taking prescription medication for their mental health within the previous year. By 2021, nearly one in four adults aged 18 to 44 had received some form of mental health treatment, whether medication, therapy, or a combination of both.
Other surveys reinforce how common pharmacological treatment has become: a 2025 Rasmussen survey found that 20% of American adults who sought mental health care in the prior year also used prescription medication. Broader analyses indicate that approximately one in six Americans takes a psychiatric drug, a category that includes medications for anxiety. These numbers also differ across demographic groups. Women are notably more likely to use psychiatric medications than men, and mental health treatment remains less common among minority groups (particularly Black, Hispanic, and Asian adults) compared to non-Hispanic White adults.
As the prevalence of anxiety has become better understood, so too has its treatment. A recent timeline compiled by Our World in Data reveals how anxiety pharmacotherapy has evolved in the U.S. over the past 70 years.
The Early Years: Tranquilizers in the 1950s
In the 1950s, anxiety treatment in the U.S. was dominated by tranquilizers, especially meprobamate, better known by its brand name Miltown. Miltown was hugely popular and one of the first psychiatric “blockbusters.” Rather than aiming to cure or deeply transform mood, it simply took the edge off. Its sedative effects calmed the central nervous system, giving temporary relief from anxiety symptoms.
But tranquilizers came with significant risks: overdose, dependence, and addiction were real issues, and over time, “safer” medications began to emerge.
The Rise of Benzodiazepines: 1960s–‘70s
The real turning point came in the 1960s and 70s with the benzodiazepine revolution. Drugs like Valium (diazepam) and Xanax (alprazolam) became household names.
Benzodiazepines work by enhancing GABA, a calming neurotransmitter in the brain. This gives them a powerful and rapid anxiolytic effect: many people feel relief within hours or even minutes.
This speed made them ideal for acute anxiety, panic attacks, or when someone needs fast-acting relief. But there was a dark side: long-term dependence, tolerance, and withdrawal became major concerns. Over time, clinicians and regulators grew wary, and their use diminished, especially as new options emerged.
Antidepressants Take Over: From the 1990s Onwards
Starting in the late 1980s and accelerating into the 1990s, the next chapter in anxiety treatment arrived: antidepressants, especially SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors).
Originally developed for depression, SSRIs were found to also help with various anxiety disorders. They act more slowly than benzos, often taking weeks to ease symptoms, but their long-term profile is much safer.
Meanwhile, SNRIs (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors) entered the scene in the 1990s and early 2000s. These not only affect serotonin but also boost norepinephrine, which can help with motivation and energy – important for people whose anxiety drains them emotionally.
The last new anxiety medication approved in the U.S was Duloxetine back in 2004. That means no brand-new drugs for anxiety have been FDA-approved in nearly two decades.
What does this mean for anxiety treatment and care in the U.S.?
- Access to medication is widespread, but the lack of new drug approvals suggests a plateau in pharmaceutical innovation.
- Safety vs speed trade-off: Benzodiazepines offer rapid relief but carry dependency risks; antidepressants are slower but more sustainable.
- Personalisation is more important than ever: Because people respond differently to anxiety, having a variety of treatment options (and combining medication with therapy) is crucial.
- Challenges remain: Off-label prescribing and insurance limitations, plus the fact that innovation is cautious – all this means we may not yet have “perfect” anxiety treatments.
So what does the future look like for anxiety treatments in the U.S?
Even though no new anxiety drugs have been approved since 2004, Our World in Data notes that innovation hasn’t stopped.
New formulations of existing drugs: For example, delayed-release versions or extended-release forms of drugs like duloxetine or lorazepam.
Off-label prescribing: Clinicians are using other antidepressants (not officially approved for anxiety) because they see benefits in certain patients. But off-label use can pose issues — for example in terms of insurance coverage.
Future treatments in the pipeline: Clinical trials are ongoing for new mechanisms of action. Some aim to improve on SSRIs/SNRIs; others go in entirely novel directions.
Non-pharmacological approaches: There’s increasing interest in therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), neurostimulation, and even virtual reality exposure therapy. Our World in Data reminds us that drugs are only one part of the picture.
How new approaches to anxiety research could transform lives of patients
The landscape of anxiety treatment, once stagnant, is now changing rapidly due to a wave of new research approaches. One of the most promising areas involves psychedelic-based treatments. For example, a single dose of an LSD-derived compound known as MM120 has shown encouraging results in Phase 2 clinical trials for generalized anxiety disorder, with effects lasting for weeks. These findings have been strong enough to support upcoming Phase 3 trials, raising the possibility that the United States could see its first new class of anxiety medication in nearly twenty years. Similar interest surrounds psilocybin-assisted therapies, where early studies indicate meaningful reductions in anxiety symptoms.
Alongside psychedelics, researchers are also developing innovative non-psychedelic compounds that work through entirely new mechanisms. One such drug, BNC210, is currently in Phase 3 trials for social anxiety disorder and has demonstrated rapid anti-anxiety effects without the sedative or addictive risks seen in older medications. Additional experimental compounds (like GM-5022 and XYL-3001) aim to promote neural plasticity or target specific serotonin receptors without producing hallucinations, potentially offering safer long-term options.
Technology-driven therapies are also reshaping the future. Virtual reality exposure tools are becoming increasingly effective for treating phobias and social anxiety, even when users guide themselves through the experience. Wearable devices capable of detecting physiological signs of anxiety – such as skin conductance or subtle eye movements – may soon allow for real-time monitoring and intervention. Meanwhile, digital therapeutics, including app-based cognitive behavioural therapy and biofeedback systems, are rapidly expanding and could make high-quality care more accessible than ever.
Taken together, these developments paint an optimistic picture for the future of anxiety treatment in the United States. More people than ever before are engaging with mental health care, yet the need for safer, more effective, and more personalised treatments remains. After decades of limited innovation, research momentum is accelerating. The next generation of anxiety care may emerge from a blend of new pharmacological breakthroughs, advanced neuroscience, and digital tools that adapt to each individual’s needs. Although challenges remain – such as regulatory approval, affordability, and ensuring equitable access – the field is entering a period of renewed possibility.
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