Massachusetts pediatric primary care sees 300% spike in anxiety diagnoses over a decade

A Massachusetts study of insured children aged 1–18 found anxiety diagnoses attached to pediatric primary care visits surged 300% from 2014 to 2023, with anxiety becoming a more common label even as total visits declined. ADHD remained the most frequent mental health diagnosis, and other conditions like autism and depression also rose modestly. The authors argue for more mental health training and integrated care in primary settings, while noting the study uses MA insurance billing data and may not generalize to other states.