Generalised anxiety disorder

Last reviewed: 28 Feb 2023
Last updated: 01 Nov 2022

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • presence of risk factors
  • excessive worry for at least 6 months
  • anxiety not confined to another mental health disorder
  • anxiety not due to medication or substance
  • muscle tension
  • sleep disturbance
  • fatigue
  • restlessness
  • irritability
  • poor concentration
More key diagnostic factors

Other diagnostic factors

  • headache
  • sweating
  • dizziness
  • gastrointestinal symptoms
  • muscle aches
  • increased heart rate
  • shortness of breath
  • trembling
  • exaggerated startle response
  • chest pain
Other diagnostic factors

Risk factors

  • family history of anxiety
  • physical or emotional stress
  • history of physical, sexual, or emotional trauma
  • other anxiety disorder
  • chronic physical health condition
  • female sex
More risk factors

Diagnostic investigations

1st investigations to order

  • clinical diagnosis
More 1st investigations to order

Investigations to consider

  • thyroid function tests
  • urine drug screen
  • 24-hour urine for vanillylmandelic and metanephrines
  • pulmonary function tests
  • ECG
More investigations to consider

Treatment algorithm

ONGOING

anxiety symptoms meeting DSM-5-TR criteria

anxiety symptoms not meeting DSM-5-TR criteria

Contributors

Authors

Christopher Gale, BHB, MPH, MBChB, FRANZCP

Research Director

Consultant Psychiatrist

Southern District Health Board

Senior Lecturer

Department of Psychological Medicine

Dunedin School of Medicine

Otago University

Dunedin

New Zealand

Disclosures

CG is an author of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists clinical practice guideline on social phobia, panic disorder, and generalised anxiety disorder. Otago University has commercial and research relationships with multiple pharmaceutical companies. He is an author of a number of references cited in this topic.

Acknowledgements

Dr Christopher Gale would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Richard P. Swinson, Dr Elizabeth Hoge, and Dr Phebe Tucker, previous contributors to this topic.

Disclosures

RPS has personally received royalties for articles published in UpToDate (Wolters Kluwer) and the Compendium of Therapeutic Choices, 2nd edition (Canadian Pharmacists Association). EH is an author of a number of references cited in this topic. PT has done research for GlaxoSmithKline, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Astra-Zeneca, Cephalon, Inc., and Ortho-McNeil. She has also consulted for Forest Pharmaceuticals and received honoraria from Pfizer, Inc. and Forest Pharmaceuticals.

Peer reviewers

Lori Davis, MD

Research Director

University of Alabama

School of Medicine Tuscaloosa Campus

College of Community Health Sciences

Tuscaloosa

AL

Disclosures

LD declares that she has no competing interests.

Arianna Di Florio, MD, PhD

Senior Clinical Lecturer

Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences

Cardiff University

United Kingdom

Disclosures

ADF declares that she has no competing interests.

Elaine Lockhart, MD, BCH, BAO

Consultant in Paediatric Liaison Psychiatry

Royal Hospital for Children

Glasgow

United Kingdom

Disclosures

EL declares that she has no competing interests.

  • Differentials

    • Panic disorder
    • Social anxiety disorder
    • Obsessive-compulsive disorder
    More Differentials
  • Guidelines

    • Antenatal and postnatal mental health: clinical management and service guidance
    • Generalised anxiety disorder and panic disorder in adults: management
    More Guidelines
  • Patient leaflets

    Anxiety: what is it?

    Anxiety: what treatments work?

    More Patient leaflets
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