ABSTRACT
In the past several decades there have been tremendous advances in understanding the mood and anxiety disorders. The development of a rigorous classification system fostered the study of a range of different conditions and provided the basis for epidemiological studies demonstrating how prevalent, chronic, and disabling these conditions are. Advances in neurochemistry, neuropsychology, and brain imaging have led to an understanding that each of these disorders has specific psychobiological correlates. And the introduction of specific pharmacotherapeutic agents and psychotherapeutic techniques has significantly improved the prognosis of patients with mood and anxiety disorders.
