GAD is an extremely debilitating condition estimated to affect six to eight million people, said Olga Brawman-Mintzer, M.D., MUSC psychiatrist and clinical principal investigator for the study. It often interferes with the individual s everyday functioning, resulting in personal pain and suffering for those affected and their families. It also carries a substantial economic cost to society.
Patients feel constantly under stress.
They are tense, worried, have difficulty sleeping. Symptoms are chronic and are often worse during times of transition, but they are always present, said Brawman-Mintzer. GAD may result in clinical depression and can affect general health because of its influence on other body systems such as the immune system. Patients with the condition frequently go to their physicians with related symptoms such as upset stomach, headaches and chest pain. These patients utilize medical care and frequently require expensive testing to rule out physical causes of the symptoms.