Generalized anxiety disorder

Common condition defined as chronic, excessive worry for at least 6 months that causes distress or impairment.

At least 3 key symptoms out of a possible 6 are required to make a diagnosis: restlessness or nervousness, easy fatigability, poor concentration, irritability, muscle tension, or sleep disturbance.

It is in part a diagnosis of exclusion: medical conditions, medications or substances, and other mental disorders should be ruled out as a primary cause.

Physical examination and laboratory studies are generally normal if no coexisting medical problems or substance abuse issues exist.

Treatment is with either pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, or a combination.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is defined as at least 6 months of excessive worry about everyday issues that is disproportionate to any inherent risk, causing distress, or impairment. The worry is not confined to features of another mental disorder, or as a result of substance abuse or a general medical condition. At least 3 of the following symptoms are present most of the time: restlessness or nervousness, being easily fatigued, poor concentration, irritability, muscle tension, or sleep disturbance.[1]American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 5th ed., (DSM-5). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing; 2013. Other common complaints are autonomic in nature, such as sweating, lightheadedness, palpitations, dizziness, and epigastric discomfort.[2]World Health Organization. International classification of diseases, tenth revision. 2010 [internet publication]. http://apps.who.int/classifications/icd10/browse/2010/en Anxiety may be "free-floating" (i.e., not restricted to, or even strongly predominating in, any particular environmental circumstances).[2]World Health Organization. International classification of diseases, tenth revision. 2010 [internet publication]. http://apps.who.int/classifications/icd10/browse/2010/en Examples of worries include fears that the patient or a relative will shortly become ill or have an accident.