AD is the commonest mental disorder with a lifetime prevalence rate of 21.1% in Europe, 31.0% in the United States2,3, a point prevalence of 5%, and a greater preponderance amongst women4. Living with ADs can be a long-term challenge. In many cases, it occurs along with other mood disorders5,6. In most cases, AD improves with psychological therapies and medication. Making lifestyle changes, learning coping skills and using relaxation techniques also can help. However, failure to treat AD and its consequences can be economically and socially costly. Therefore, early recognition of the disorder is imperative as that improves the scope for treatment and the prognosis. This guide describes critical aspects of the various subtypes of AD and how to manage them.