A new multidisciplinary forum dedicated to understanding the link between anxiety and chronic illness has launched in Spain, spearheaded by Schwabe Farma Ibérica. This unique initiative aims to generate medical knowledge and provide relevant insights for healthcare professionals regarding the impact of anxiety on patients managing long-term health conditions. Globally, one in three adults lives with one or more chronic diseases, a circumstance linked to a heightened risk of mental health disorders like anxiety.
The Forum on Anxiety and Chronic Conditions brings together leading national specialists in Family Medicine, Psychiatry, Geriatrics, Pulmonology, Neurology, Otolaryngology, Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, Oncology, Pharmacy, and Nursing. These are all specialties directly involved in the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of prevalent chronic conditions such as cognitive impairment, asthma, COPD, and gastrointestinal diseases like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Dr. Pedro Gil Gregorio, head of the Geriatrics Service at the Clínico San Carlos Hospital in Madrid and coordinator of the Forum, explains, “Our objective is to focus on analyzing the emotional burden associated with chronic diseases, promote early detection tools for anxiety in clinical settings, and create awareness materials aimed at both healthcare professionals and patients and caregivers.”
The importance of this medical and care initiative lies in the fact that anxiety is a widespread issue affecting both those with chronic illnesses and their caregivers. However, these symptoms are not always identified, diagnosed, or quantified, making it tough to accurately measure their real impact on quality of life and clinical management of diseases. Understanding and addressing this often-overlooked aspect of chronic illness is crucial for holistic patient care.
Experts agree that anxiety influences treatment adherence, the patient-physician relationship, and the progression of chronic conditions. Conversely, the symptoms and limitations of these diseases can contribute to increased anxiety levels. This bidirectional interaction is particularly relevant in neurological and degenerative diseases, where uncertainty about the disease’s course and the challenges it presents significantly affect the patient’s emotional well-being.
Clinical Study to Measure Anxiety in Outpatients
The creation of this Forum is guided by three main objectives: research, through studies that provide valuable conclusions for the medical community; training, by publishing clinical consensus and practical recommendations; and dissemination, through actions that seek to improve social understanding of anxiety and its impact on the lives of patients and caregivers.
As a first step, the Forum will design a prevalence study in outpatient settings using rapid screening questionnaires to quantify anxiety, identify diagnostic barriers, and evaluate the tools currently used in clinical practice.
“Anxiety in chronic patients is a factor that often remains hidden and, when identified, can modify clinical management and improve quality of life. It is necessary to incorporate it into clinical practice with the same importance as other care parameters,” adds Dr. Pedro Gil.
Dr. Luis Herrera, medical director of Schwabe Farma, explains that “the creation of this first and unique Forum on Anxiety and Chronic Conditions reinforces our commitment to innovation in health and to finding solutions that generate a real impact on the lives of patients and improve their quality of life. In addition to generating scientific evidence, fundamental in the field of chronic pathologies, the Forum acts as a strategic platform to connect professionals from different areas of knowledge and enhance policies and programs to support patients and caregivers, contributing to a more comprehensive and sustainable healthcare model.”
