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Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) - Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Symptom, Cause, Treatment
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder, GAD, is an anxiety disorder characterized by chronic anxiety, exaggerated worry and tension, even when there is little or nothing to provoke it.
- For more than half the days in at least 6 months, the patient experiences excessive anxiety and worry about several events or activities.
- The patient has trouble controlling these feelings.
- Associated with this anxiety and worry, the patient has 3 or more of the following symptoms, some of which are present for over half the days in the past 6 months:*
-Feels restless, edgy, keyed up
-Tires easily
-Trouble concentrating
-Irritability
-Increased muscle tension
-Trouble sleeping (initial insomnia or restless, unrefreshing sleep)
- Aspects of another Axis I disorder do not provide the focus of the anxiety and worry.
- The symptoms cause clinically important distress or impair work, social or personal functioning.
- The disorder is not directly caused by a general medical condition or by substance use, including medications and drugs of abuse.
- It does not occur only during a Mood Disorder, Psychotic Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder or Pervasive Developmental Disorder.
Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder
GAD affects the way a person thinks, but the anxiety can lead to physical symptoms, as well. Symptoms of GAD include:
- Excessive, ongoing worry and tension
- An unrealistic view of problems
- Restlessness or a feeling of being "edgy"
- Irritability
- Muscle tension
- Headaches
- Sweating
- Difficulty concentrating
- Nausea
- The need to go to the bathroom frequently
- Tiredness
- Trouble falling or staying asleep
- Trembling
- Being easily startled
Causes of Generalized Anxiety Disorder
The exact cause of GAD is not fully known, but a number of factors -- including genetics, brain chemistry and environmental stresses -- appear to contribute to its development.
- Genetics: Some research suggests that family history plays a part in increasing the likelihood that a person will develop GAD.
- Brain chemistry: GAD has been associated with abnormal levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain.
- Environmental factors: Trauma and stressful events, such as abuse, the death of a loved one, divorce, changing jobs or schools, may lead to GAD.
Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder
SSRIs are commonly used to treat GAD. Examples include SSRIs such as sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), citalopram (Celexa), and escitalopram (Lexapro). Benzodiazepenes such as diazepam and alprazolam are sometimes used in the short-term in order to alleviate extreme cases of anxiety, but they are not safe for continuous use because of the high risk of dependency. Conversely, it is very safe for a person to be on an SSRI antidepressant for many years. The anti-anxiety drug buspirone (BuSpar) is sometimes used in addition to or instead of SSRIs in the treatment of GAD. Treatments for GAD include medications and cognitive-behavioral therapy. A combination of the two has proved the most effective in alleviating symptoms; medication alone may reduce some anxiety but will not eliminate it entirely. Effective treatments for anxiety disorders are available, and research is yielding new, improved therapies that can help most people with anxiety disorders lead productive, fulfilling lives
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