What is the major feature of anxiety disorders?

The defining characteristic of anxiety disorders is excessive fear or worry that significantly interferes with daily functioning. Individuals with anxiety disorders often experience persistent and uncontrollable anxiety that can manifest in various ways, impacting their ability to carry out everyday tasks, maintain relationships, or even perform in work or school settings. This excessive anxiety can lead to physical symptoms such as increased heart rate, sweating, and trembling, as well as emotional distress.

In contrast, while compulsive behaviors are related to disorders like obsessive-compulsive disorder, they are not a central feature of anxiety disorders as a whole. Loss of interest in activities, also known as anhedonia, is more closely associated with depressive disorders rather than anxiety. The inability to concentrate, while it can occur in anxiety disorders, is not exclusive to them and can be seen in various psychological conditions, including depression and attention disorders. Therefore, the focus on the prominence of fear and worry makes identifying excessive fear or worry as the major feature of anxiety disorders accurate and critical in understanding these conditions.