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What exactly is "Generalized Anxiety Disorder"?
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a condition characterized by having
feelings of excessive anxiety and worry, which have been happening most of the time for at least 6 months.
These worries and anxious feelings are about any number of day to day events or activities
such as: work, school, your career, finances, health, family, friends and the
future. The affected person finds it very hard to control these worries.
In order to be classified as GAD, the
focus of the worry cannot be confined to features of another existing anxiety
condition. For example: worrying about having a Panic Attack, as in Panic Disorder, being
embarrassed in public or social situations as in
Social Phobia, or
being contaminated or dirty as in Obsessive-Compulsive
Disorder.
What kinds of physical symptoms go along with GAD?
In addition to anxiety and excessive worrying about day to day things, people with GAD often have other, more physical or "body" symptoms. Some of the more common ones are:
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Being restless or feeling keyed up or on edge |
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Being easily fatigued, tiring more quickly than usual |
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Having a hard time concentrating or having your mind going blank all of a sudden |
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Being very irritable |
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Experiencing a lot of muscle tension |
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Experiencing disturbances in sleep. For example: having difficulty falling, staying asleep, or having very restless, unsatisfying sleep |
Does GAD occur with other mental conditions?
It is not uncommon for GAD to occur with several other emotional disorders. The most
common ones are mood disorders (namely depression) and other anxiety disorders
(panic disorder, social phobia and specific phobias).
How common is GAD?
In a recent survey conducted in the United States examining mental disorders in
the community, researchers found that 3.1% (1 in ~33) of all people suffered from GAD in
the past year, while 5.7% (1 in ~17) suffered from GAD at least once during their
lifetime.
How is GAD treated?
There are two main options for treating GAD: medication and cognitive behaviour therapy. Many medications exist and have been shown to be very effective in the treatment of GAD. Among the ones most commonly used are the antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs) and tranquilizers (benzodiazepines). Both medications have advantages and disadvantages, which should be considered thoroughly with a doctor before deciding on which medication is right for the individual. Cognitive behavioural therapy is also extremely effective and can often be combined with drug therapy to enhance its effectiveness.
How can you get treatment for GAD?
Treatment is often started by a family doctor but may involve a referral to a psychiatrist, psychologist or specialized anxiety disorders clinic. If you think you may be suffering from GAD, speak to your family doctor/general practitioner about receiving a formal assessment.
What's new in GAD treatment?
In addition there are new and novel treatments for GAD being tested. At the Anxiety Disorders Clinic at the McMaster University Medical Center we are currently running several studies examining the use of new medications in the treatment of GAD. For further information on these studies or to see if you may be eligible to participate, CLICK HERE
For more information about the clinic please visit our homepage