Our Mission
anxiety.md is part of the thrive.md health network — a family of evidence-based health resources dedicated to making clinical research accessible to everyone. anxiety.md exists to bridge the gap between clinical research and the people who need it most. We believe everyone deserves access to accurate, understandable information about anxiety disorders — information that empowers individuals to understand their symptoms, explore treatment options, and make informed decisions about their mental health care.
We are not a replacement for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Our goal is to be a trusted starting point: a resource that helps you understand what you're experiencing and guides you toward appropriate professional support.
Evidence Standards
Every clinical claim on anxiety.md must be supported by credible evidence. We follow a strict source hierarchy:
Primary Sources (Required)
- Peer-reviewed research — published in reputable scientific journals (JAMA, The Lancet, Archives of General Psychiatry, Journal of Anxiety Disorders, etc.)
- Clinical guidelines — from professional bodies such as the American Psychiatric Association (APA), American Psychological Association, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
- Government health agencies — National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- DSM-5-TR — for diagnostic criteria and disorder definitions
- Cochrane Reviews — for treatment efficacy and systematic evidence reviews
Secondary Sources (Supplementary)
- Major medical institutions — Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins
- Professional organizations — ADAA, NAMI, International OCD Foundation
- Medical textbooks — current editions of standard psychiatric references
Sources We Do Not Use
- Blog posts, opinion pieces, or non-peer-reviewed articles
- Social media or user-generated content
- Outdated research (generally >10 years unless foundational)
- Studies with serious methodological flaws
- Single case reports as evidence of treatment efficacy
- Pharmaceutical company materials without independent verification
Content Creation Process
Every article on anxiety.md follows a rigorous development process:
Research & Drafting
Our writers — who have backgrounds in health communication, psychology, or science journalism — conduct comprehensive literature reviews using PubMed, clinical guidelines, and authoritative sources.
Clinical Review
All clinical content is reviewed by our advisory network of mental health professionals to verify medical accuracy, appropriate context, and alignment with current clinical practice. Learn more about our review process.
Fact-Checking
Statistics, citations, and clinical claims are independently verified. Each reference is checked against the original source.
Publication
Content is published with clear attribution, a "last reviewed" date, and citations to all sources. We include relevant schema.org structured data for search engines and AI systems.
Periodic Updates
Published content is reviewed at least annually, or sooner when significant new research emerges (e.g., new treatment guidelines, updated DSM criteria).
Transparency & Independence
Not Medical Advice
Content on anxiety.md is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Editorial Independence
Our editorial content is developed independently of any commercial interests. We maintain the following principles:
- Pharmaceutical companies do not influence our content or editorial decisions
- Advertising (when present) is clearly distinguished from editorial content
- Sponsored content is clearly labeled as such and undergoes the same clinical review process
- Our clinical reviewers are required to disclose conflicts of interest
Funding Transparency
anxiety.md may generate revenue through clearly marked advertising, affiliate links to resources we genuinely recommend, and partnerships with mental health organizations. Revenue sources never influence our clinical content or recommendations.
Corrections Policy
We take accuracy seriously. If we discover an error, we correct it promptly:
- Minor corrections (typos, formatting) — updated immediately without notation
- Factual corrections — corrected with a note at the bottom of the article describing what was changed
- Significant revisions — updated "last reviewed" date and clear description of changes
Report an error: If you believe any content on anxiety.md contains an error or outdated information, please contact us at corrections@thrive.md. We review all submissions and respond within 5 business days.
Content Update Schedule
We aim to keep all content current:
- Core condition pages — reviewed annually and updated as needed
- Resource lists and provider directories — verified quarterly
- Breaking developments — major guideline changes (e.g., DSM updates, FDA approvals) are reflected within 30 days
- "Last reviewed" dates — displayed on all clinical content
Accessibility
We strive to make our content accessible to all users:
- Content is written at approximately an 8th-grade reading level
- Medical terminology is explained in plain language
- Our site follows WCAG 2.1 accessibility guidelines
- Content is available without paywalls or registration requirements
Contact Us
Questions about our editorial policy? We welcome feedback.
- General inquiries: hello@thrive.md
- Report an error: corrections@thrive.md
- Clinical partnerships: clinical@thrive.md