Generalized anxiety disorder

**Generalized anxiety disorder** (**GAD**) be an anxiety disorder wey be characterized by excessive, uncontrollable, den often irrational worry about events anaa activities. Worry often dey interfere plus daily functioning. Individuals plis GAD often be, buh no necessarily be, overly concerned about everyday matters such as health, finances, death, family, relationship concerns, anaa work difficulties. Symptoms fi include excessive worry, restlessness, trouble sleeping, exhaustion, irritability, sweating, den trembling.

Symptoms for be consistent den ongoing, wey dey persist at least six months for a formal diagnosis. Individuals plus GAD often get oda disorders wey dey include oda psychiatric disorders, substance use disorder, anaa obesity, wey fi get a history of trauma anaa family plus GAD. Clinicians dey use screening tools such as de GAD-7 den GAD-2 questionnaires to determine if individuals fi get GAD den warrant formal evaluation for de disorder. In addition, screening tools fi enable clinicians to evaluate de severity of GAD symptoms.

Treatment dey include types of psychotherapy den pharmacological intervention. CBT den selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) be first-line psychological den pharmacological treatments; oda options dey include serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), den insyd more severe, last resort cases, benzodiazepines, though no be as first-line drugs as benzodiazepines be frequently abused den habit forming. Insyd Europe den de United States, pregabalin sanso be used. Na dem study de potential effects of complementary den alternative medications (CAMs), exercise, therapeutic massage, den oda interventions. Brain stimulation, LSD, den oda novel therapeutic interventions sanso be under study.

Genetic den environmental factors both dey contribute to GAD. A hereditary component dem influence by brain structure den neurotransmitter function dey interact plus life stressors such as parenting style den abusive relationships. Emerging evidence sanso dey link problematic digital media use to increased anxiety. GAD dey involve heightened amygdala den prefrontal cortex activity, wey dey reflect an overactive threat-response system. E dey affect about 2–6% of adults worldwide, usually dey begin insyd adolescence anaa early adulthood, be more common insyd women, den often dey recur thru out life. Na dem define GAD as a separate diagnosis insyd 1980, plus changing criteria over time wey get complicated research den treatment development.
## References


## Read further
* Brown, T. A., O'Leary, T. A., & Barlow, D. H. (2001). "Generalised anxiety disorder". In D. H. Barlow (ed.), *Clinical handbook of psychological disorders: A step-by-step treatment manual* (3rd ed.). New York: Guilford Press.
* Barlow, D. H., & Durand, V. M. (2005). *Abnormal psychology: An integrative approach*. Australia; Belmont, Calif.: Wadsworth.
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## External links

*Mayo Clinic&nbsp;– Information on diagnosis and treatment for GAD
*WebMD&nbsp;– Information on symptoms and causes of GAD
*Anxiety Disorders Association of America&nbsp;– Information for families, clinicians, and researchers
*National Institute of Mental Health, Generalized Anxiety Disorder: When Worry Gets Out of Control
*National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, Anxiety and Complementary Health Approaches