generalized anxiety disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by excessive, uncontrollable, and often irrational worry about events or activities. Worry often interferes with daily functioning. Individuals with GAD are often, but not necessarily, overly concerned about everyday matters such as health, finances, death, family, relationship concerns, or work difficulties. Symptoms may include excessive worry, restlessness, trouble sleeping, exhaustion, irritability, sweating, and trembling. Symptoms must be consistent and ongoing, persisting at least six months for a formal diagnosis. Individuals with GAD often have other disorders including other psychiatric disorders, substance use disorder, or obesity, and may have a history of trauma or family with GAD. Clinicians use screening tools such as the GAD-7 and GAD-2 questionnaires to determine if individuals may have GAD and warrant formal evaluation for the disorder. In addition, screening tools may enable clinicians to evaluate the severity of GAD symptoms. Treatment includes types of psychotherapy and pharmacological intervention; combined therapy is generally considered most effective. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are the first-line psychological and pharmacological treatments. In more severe, last-resort cases, benzodiazepines (BZs) may be used, as BZs are habit-forming and frequently abused. Pregabalin is an additional effective treatment for GAD; it has a low risk of dependence. The potential e...