Generalized anxiety disorder in adults: Epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, course, assessment, and diagnosis

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Generalized anxiety disorder in adults: Epidemiology,

pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, course,
assessment, and diagnosis
Author: David Baldwin, MA, DM FRCPsych
Section Editor: Murray B Stein, MD, MPH
Deputy Editor: Michael Friedman, MD

Contributor Disclosures

All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete.

Literature review current through: Dec 2022. | This topic last updated: Apr 18, 2022.

INTRODUCTION

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by excessive and persistent worry that is
difficult to control, causes significant distress or impairment, and occurs on more days than
not for at least six months. Other features include psychological symptoms such as
apprehension and irritability, and physical (or somatic) symptoms such as increased fatigue
and muscular tension.

This topic addresses the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and diagnosis of
GAD. Pharmacotherapy for GAD, psychotherapy for GAD, and issues concerning treatment
and assessment of comorbid disorders are discussed separately:

● (See "Generalized anxiety disorder in adults: Management".)

● (See "Generalized anxiety disorder in adults: Cognitive-behavioral therapy and other
psychotherapies".)
● (See "Co-occurring substance use disorder and anxiety-related disorders in adults:
Epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, course, assessment, and
diagnosis".)
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Generalized anxiety disorder in adults: Epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, course, assessment, and diagnosis
● (See "Comorbid anxiety and depression in adults: Epidemiology, clinical manifestations,
and diagnosis".)

EPIDEMIOLOGY

Prevalence — Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is one of the most common mental

disorders in both community and clinical settings. It is associated with increased use of health
care services [1,2].

Epidemiologic studies of nationally representative samples in the United States report a past-
year prevalence of GAD to be 2.7 to 3.1 percent [3,4] and a lifetime prevalence of GAD of 5.1
[2,5] to 11.9 percent [6]. A review of epidemiological studies in Europe found a past-year
prevalence of 1.7 to 3.4 percent [7], and a lifetime prevalence of 4.3 to 5.9 percent [8].
Worldwide, estimates of the lifetime and 12-month prevalence are 3.7 and 1.8 percent,
respectively [9].

The disorder is approximately twice as common in females as it is in males [2,6].

Comorbidity — Comorbidity with major depression or other anxiety disorders is commonly

observed in GAD.

In a nationally representative survey of United States adults, 66 percent of individuals with

current GAD had at least one concurrent psychiatric disorder while 90 percent of individuals
with lifetime GAD had at least one comorbid psychiatric disorder [2]. Lifetime comorbidity,
worldwide, has been estimated as 81.9 percent [9].

Comorbid disorders can affect the clinical course of GAD [10-12].

Major depressive disorder appears to be the most common comorbidity in individuals with
current or lifetime GAD. Comorbid major depression is reported in 39 percent of individuals
with current GAD and 62 percent of individuals with lifetime GAD [2,7]. Worldwide, mood
disorders have an estimated lifetime comorbidity of 63 percent [9].

Other disorders found to co-occur in individuals with GAD (rates over previous 30 days and
lifetime) include [2,13]:
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Generalized anxiety disorder in adults: Epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, course, assessment, and diagnosis
● Social phobia – 23 and 34 percent
● Specific phobia – 25 and 35 percent
● Panic disorder – 23 and 24 percent

GAD may also be associated with increased rates of alcohol and other substance use
disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

GAD is common among patients with “medically unexplained” chronic pain [14] and with
chronic physical illness [15].

● (See "Unipolar depression in adults: Epidemiology".)

● (See "Social anxiety disorder in adults: Epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and
diagnosis".)
● (See "Specific phobia in adults: Epidemiology, clinical manifestations, course and
diagnosis".)
● (See "Panic disorder in adults: Epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and diagnosis".)

PATHOGENESIS

Biological factors

● Genetics – Genetic factors appear to predispose individuals to the development of

generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) [16]. GAD shares a common heritability with major
depression [17] and with the personality trait of “neuroticism” [18,19]. Other data
support variations in subtypes of glutamic acid decarboxylase gene as increasing
susceptibility to GAD [20,21], and increased frequency of the serotonin transporter
gene-linked polymorphic region SS genotype in individuals with GAD [22].

Furthermore, gene-environment studies have highlighted the importance of early

developmental trauma and recent stressful life events and their interaction with genetic
markers in the development of GAD and anxiety sensitivity [16].

● Neurotransmitter disturbances and other biomarkers – Investigations of

disturbances in neurotransmitters and other biomarkers in GAD tend to have been

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Generalized anxiety disorder in adults: Epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, course, assessment, and diagnosis

small or unreplicated [23-29].

Evidence of possible neurotransmitter disturbances in individuals with GAD is supported

by the following:

• Two observational studies including a total of 60 individuals reported elevated levels

of norepinephrine metabolites 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylgycol and
vanillylmandelic in individuals with GAD versus those without GAD [23,24].

• An observational study reported blunted growth hormone response to clonidine in

11 individuals with GAD compared with 14 healthy subjects [25]. This suggests
decreased postsynaptic alpha-2 adrenergic receptor sensitivity in individuals with
GAD.

• In an observational study including 46 individuals with GAD, elevated urinary levels of

the serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid appeared to be associated with
greater somatic anxiety symptoms, but not psychic anxiety symptoms [24].

Other data suggests the role of acid-sensing ion channels in the amygdala [28] and
elevated levels of C reactive protein and other proinflammatory cytokines [29] as
potentially involved in the development of GAD.

● Neuroimaging and brain metabolism – In individuals with GAD, localized morphologic

changes in white matter volume have been reported [30]. In one cohort study, magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) of 22 individuals with GAD were compared with MRI of 22
healthy controls. The diagnosis of GAD was associated with reduced white matter
volume in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, anterior limb of the internal capsule, and
midbrain.

Additionally, alterations in glucose metabolism in the cortex, limbic system, and basal
ganglia suggest their role in the development of anxiety. For example, in one study,
positron emission tomography (PET) of 18 individuals with GAD were compared with PET
of 15 individuals without GAD (control group) [31]. PET scans of individuals with GAD
demonstrated a relative increase in glucose metabolism in parts of the occipital, right
posterior temporal lobe, inferior gyrus, cerebellum and right frontal gyrus, and an
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Generalized anxiety disorder in adults: Epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, course, assessment, and diagnosis

absolute decrease in the basal ganglia versus control group.

In a separate functional MRI study, individuals with GAD showed greater anticipatory
activity in the bilateral dorsal amygdala to both aversive and neutral pictures [32]. This
suggests an enhanced anticipatory emotional responsiveness in GAD [31,32]. A
systematic review of neuroimaging studies found that GAD patients show difficulties in
engaging the prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex during emotional
regulation tasks [33].

Cognitive, psychological, and developmental factors

● Processing of emotional information – Individuals with GAD show a consistent bias

towards generating negative interpretations of ambiguous material [34,35]. Additionally,
they tend be vigilant to threatening stimuli, often detecting “threats” rapidly [36],
particularly when the threat is presented in verbal-linguistic format (ie, words) rather
than pictorial form [37].

These biases appear to diminish with successful treatment with cognitive-behavioral

therapy [38] or a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor [39].

● Developmental and personality factors – GAD in adults is associated with a higher

than average number of traumatic experiences and other undesirable life events in
childhood, compared with individuals without GAD [40]. Childhood maltreatment
confers an increased risk of developing GAD following stressful experiences [41].

GAD is more likely to occur in individuals with “behavioral inhibition” (the tendency to be
timid and shy in novel situations), than without this trait. Additionally, neuroticism (an
enduring tendency to worry and feel anxious, sad, or guilty) is associated with comorbid
GAD and major depression [42-44]. (See "Social anxiety disorder in adults: Epidemiology,
clinical manifestations, and diagnosis", section on 'Behavioral inhibition'.)

● Cognitive origins of worry – Many explanations of the origin and persistence of the
excessive and pervasive worrying that characterize GAD have been proposed. As
examples, affected individuals may:

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Generalized anxiety disorder in adults: Epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, course, assessment, and diagnosis

• Constantly scan the environment for cues of threat [45]

• Develop worrying in an attempt to solve problems [46]
• Use worrying to avoid the fear response [47]
• Have intolerance of uncertainty or ambiguity [48]
• Worry about the uncontrollability and presumed dangerous consequences of
worrying [49]

CLINICAL FEATURES AND COURSE

Characteristic symptoms — Individuals with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) experience

excessive worry or anxiety about health, work, interpersonal relationships, or other life
events. Generally, these worries seem realistic; however, they are typically out of proportion
to the impact of the anticipated event or the object of worry. The symptoms cause distress or
impairment in psychosocial functioning. Furthermore, individuals with GAD report greater
worries over minor matters (eg, household chores, car repairs, being late for an appointment)
than controls [49].

Other presenting symptoms may include restlessness or hyperarousal, fatigue, irritability,

poor concentration, sleep disturbance, and muscle tension. These are often chronic and
unexplained despite repeated presentation to health care professionals.

Onset — The average age of onset of GAD is 30 years, although the range is broad [50]. While
subsyndromal anxiety symptoms are common before the age of 20, full syndromal disorder
typically occurs later than other anxiety disorders (eg, separation anxiety disorder, phobias,
panic disorder) [51,52].

Studies examining the effect of age of onset on the course of GAD have shown mixed results.
While some studies have suggested that earlier age of onset is associated with a more
protracted course [53], others find that early-onset GAD does not constitute a more severe
subtype [54].

● Late-onset generalized anxiety – Late-onset GAD (onset ≥50 years) is thought to

represent the most common anxiety disorder among older adult populations [7,55].

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Generalized anxiety disorder in adults: Epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, course, assessment, and diagnosis

Individuals with late-onset GAD are more likely to a report a poorer health-related
quality of life than individuals with earlier onset GAD [55-57].

In a community survey including 1974 adults age ≥65 years, nearly 25 percent reported
a late onset of generalized anxiety symptoms [58]. Factors associated with late-onset
GAD include female sex, chronic physical illness (eg, respiratory, cardiovascular,
cognitive), current major depression or phobia, recent adverse life events, negative
childhood events (eg, parental loss or separation, parental mental health problems),
financial difficulties, and past history of GAD [56,59].

Chronicity of symptoms — GAD is a chronic illness with fluctuating symptom severity. In

approximately half of the cases, there are intervening symptom free periods [52].

In one prospective study of 179 individuals with GAD, approximately 60 percent of patients
recovered over 12 years (ie, had no more than residual symptoms for eight consecutive
weeks), but approximately one-half of recovered patients subsequently relapsed during the
12-year period [60].

In another prospective study involving 142 subjects with GAD followed for 14 years, the
severity of anxiety symptoms over time decreased only modestly [61].

However, studies of individuals in community samples suggest a better prognosis than

studies of clinical populations. In one 22-year follow-up study of 105 community living
individuals with GAD found that less than 20 percent had persistent GAD (defined by the
presence of daily symptoms over the previous 12 months) [52].

Effects of illness

Psychosocial effects — GAD is associated with substantial psychosocial impairment across

several life domains including occupational, social, and household functioning [62]. In some
cases, the level of impairment is greater than is seen in individuals with major depression
[63,64].

For example, in a national epidemiologic survey of adult mental health in Germany (n = 4181),
the impact of psychiatric symptoms on daily functioning and perceived quality of life was

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Generalized anxiety disorder in adults: Epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, course, assessment, and diagnosis

assessed [64]. A greater percentage of respondents with the diagnosis of GAD reported six or
more days with impairment (defined as inability to work or carry out everyday activities) over
the past month than respondents with major depression or no diagnosis (34 versus 21 versus
2 percent respectively). Furthermore, lower scores on measures of quality of life including
general health and mental health (as measured on the 100-point Medical Outcomes Study
Short Form-36) were seen in individuals with GAD versus major depression versus no
diagnosis (general health: 47 versus 59 versus 68 respectively; mental health: 34 versus 42
versus 51, respectively).

The presence of comorbid disorders such as major depression appear to be associated with
more severe and prolonged course of illness and greater functional impairment [6,12,60]. For
example, in a national survey, a greater percentage of individuals with both GAD and major
depression reported six or more days of impairment in the past month than individuals with
either GAD or major depression (48 versus 34 versus 21 percent respectively) [64].
Additionally, the survey showed that a greater percentage of individuals with both disorders
had over 50 percent reduction in overall activities than individuals with generalized anxiety or
major depression (23 versus 11 versus 8 percent respectively). (See 'Comorbidity' above.)

Systemic effects — GAD is associated with poor cardiovascular health, coronary heart

disease [65], and cardiovascular mortality [66]. Relationships between worry and
cardiovascular changes include observations that excessive worrying leads to diminished
heart rate variability, elevated heart rate, hypertension, and increased antihypertensive use
[65]. Additionally, greater severity of worry has been associated with higher rates of fatal and
nonfatal coronary heart disease. Evidence to support the contention that worry may be
beneficial to cardiovascular function or health promoting behaviors has not been found [65].

Prospective studies suggest that clinically significant anxiety in the midlife period may be an
independent risk factor for the development of dementia [67].

ASSESSMENT AND DIAGNOSIS

Assessment

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Generalized anxiety disorder in adults: Epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, course, assessment, and diagnosis

History — Our primary goal in assessing individuals with anxiety is differentiating anxiety

due to generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) from anxiety that may be due to other causes and
determining if the anxiety warrants treatment or not. We use history as the primary tool to
accomplish these goals.

● First, we assess the frequency, character, and severity of symptoms to raise or lower
suspicion for the diagnosis of GAD by asking the following questions. Using a symptom
scale, such as the GAD seven-item (GAD-7) scale (calculator 1), can also be helpful to try
to quantify the severity of symptoms (see 'Quantifying the severity of symptoms' below):

• Does the anxiety concern every day or routine circumstances or events (eg, job
responsibility, health of self or family members, finances, misfortunes, or other
minor tasks such as household chores)?

• Is the anxiety difficult to control?

• Are associated symptoms such as restlessness, concentration problems, irritability,

tension, or fatigue present?

• Have the symptoms been present for more than six months?

• Are the symptoms present more days than not?

• Do the symptoms cause significant distress to the individual or is there impairment

in social, occupational, or other areas of functioning as a result of the anxiety?

In individuals who answer yes to all of the above questions we further consider the
diagnosis of GAD and rule out other diagnoses that present with similar or overlapping
syndromes and other comorbid diseases. (See 'Diagnostic criteria' below and
'Differential diagnosis' below.)

Individuals who answer no to any of these questions probably do not meet the
American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria for GAD.

● For people who would meet DSM-5 criteria for GAD or have a likely diagnosis of GAD
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Generalized anxiety disorder in adults: Epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, course, assessment, and diagnosis

based on the severity and frequency of symptoms as above, we review prior psychiatric
history and rule out other psychiatric diagnoses as potential causes of anxiety. We do
this by establishing the presence or absence of symptoms that may differentiate
between disorders:

• Mood symptoms – Dysphoria or elevated mood, sleep disturbance, early morning

awakening, irritability, fatigue, guilt, suicidal ideation could suggest depression or
mania if they are more prominent than the anxiety.

• Specific worries about potential medical illness or somatic symptoms – These

suggest a focused anxiety disorder (eg, illness-anxiety disorder) rather than a GAD.

• Rapid onset and resolution of symptoms – Symptoms that start rapidly, sharply rise
in intensity, peak within an hour, and then decline are suggestive of discrete anxiety
attacks which suggests panic disorder rather than GAD.

• Presence of recurrent or intrusive thoughts – The presence of these with associated

repetitive behaviors that are performed to neutralize the intrusive thoughts suggest
a diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) rather than GAD.

• Recent psychosocial stressor – The presence of recent stressors such as relationship

problems, career problems, or loss of a loved one suggest a diagnosis of an
adjustment disorder or acute stress disorder as the underlying cause of the anxiety.

These and other psychiatric disorders that can share symptomatology with GAD are
discussed in further detail elsewhere. It is also possible for these disorders to coexist
with GAD. (See 'Differential diagnosis' below.)

● We ask about physical health problems (eg, thyroid disease, asthma) and their effects.
We review the individual’s use of prescribed medications (eg, steroids, bronchodilators)
as these may be causing or worsening the anxiety. We also ask about alcohol and other
substance use or recent abstinence from alcohol or other substances.

Physical examination and laboratory testing in select individuals — For individuals with

suspected physical cause of anxiety (eg, individuals with weight loss, cognitive impairment,

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shortness of breath) and in individuals with later onset of generalized anxiety (eg, older than
50 years) we do a general physical screening examination and laboratory testing to screen for
underlying medical disorders. We typically obtain a complete blood count, chemistry panel,
serum thyrotropin, urinalysis, electrocardiogram (in patients over 40 with chest pain or
palpitations), and urine toxicology. In cases with suspected underlying medical cause, we
refer to the appropriate specialist for further evaluation.

In older individuals the co-occurrence of long-term physical illness, chronic insomnia,

cognitive impairment, and side effects of prescribed medication can make the diagnosis
more difficult. Older adult individuals with GAD may assert that anxiety or fear is a
realistic response to their social environment, recent life events, and current challenges.

Quantifying the severity of symptoms — In all individuals with symptoms suspicious for
GAD, we use the GAD-7 scale (calculator 1) as a means of measuring the level of anxiety.
Additionally, in individuals with confirmed GAD we use the GAD-7 periodically, to monitor
symptoms and judge the response to treatment. The GAD-7 has acceptable reliability and
validity [68] and is sensitive to change in symptoms [69].

The Penn State Worry Questionnaire is available in a number of languages but does not
assess all key symptoms and may be less sensitive to change than the GAD-7 [69].

For hospitalized individuals with active medical disorders, we use the Hospital Anxiety and
Depression Scale to assess and monitor the severity of anxiety and depression. It is useful in
identifying pathological anxiety, has separate subscales for anxiety and depression, and
includes questions that can distinguish symptoms of GAD from anxiety associated with other
medical conditions [68].

Diagnostic criteria — We diagnose GAD in individuals with excessive anxiety and worry that
occur on more days than not for at least six months, are associated with somatic symptoms
(muscle tension, irritability, sleep disturbance), are not due to effects of substances or
another medical condition, and cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social,
occupation, or other important areas of functioning. In patients who “fall short” of the
severity or duration thresholds, further review is advisable, particularly in those who are
significantly distressed or impaired in functioning.

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Generalized anxiety disorder in adults: Epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, course, assessment, and diagnosis

Specifically, the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for GAD are [50]:

● A. Excessive anxiety and worry (apprehensive expectation), occurring more days than
not for at least six months, about a number of events or activities (such as work or
school performance).

● B. The individual finds it difficult to control the worry.

● C. The anxiety and worry are associated with three (or more) of the following six
symptoms (with at least some symptoms having been present for more days than not
for the past six months):

Note: Only one item is required in children.

• 1. Restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge

• 2. Being easily fatigued

• 3. Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank

• 4. Irritability

• 5. Muscle tension

• 6. Sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless, unsatisfying

sleep)

● D. The anxiety, worry, or physical symptoms cause clinically significant distress or

impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

● E. The disturbance is not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance (eg, a

drug of abuse, a medication) or another medical condition (eg, hyperthyroidism).

● F. The disturbance is not better explained by another mental disorder (eg, anxiety or
worry about having panic attacks in panic disorder, negative evaluation in social anxiety
disorder [social phobia], contamination or other obsessions in OCD, separation from
attachment figures in separation anxiety disorder, reminders of traumatic events in

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Generalized anxiety disorder in adults: Epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, course, assessment, and diagnosis

posttraumatic stress disorder, gaining weight in anorexia nervosa, physical complaints

in somatic symptom disorder, perceived appearance flaws in body dysmorphic disorder,
having a serious illness in illness anxiety disorder, or the content of delusional beliefs in
schizophrenia or delusional disorder). Because the majority of the anxiety symptoms are
not specific to GAD, it is important to exclude the other anxiety disorders before making
the diagnosis.

• (See "Social anxiety disorder in adults: Epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and

diagnosis".)
• (See "Panic disorder in adults: Epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and diagnosis".)
• (See "Posttraumatic stress disorder in adults: Epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical
manifestations, course, assessment, and diagnosis".)
• (See "Obsessive-compulsive disorder in adults: Epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical
manifestations, course, and diagnosis".)
• (See "Specific phobia in adults: Epidemiology, clinical manifestations, course and
diagnosis".)

The essential feature of diagnostic criteria for GAD in the World Health Organization
International Classification of Diseases, 11th revision (ICD-11) is generalized apprehension or
excessive worry, together with additional symptoms such as muscular tension, subjective
experience of nervousness, difficulty maintaining concentration, irritability, or sleep
disturbance. Symptoms have to be present for most days over the preceding several months.

The diagnosis of GAD in children and adolescents is discussed further separately. (See
"Anxiety disorders in children and adolescents: Epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical
manifestations, and course".)

Differential diagnosis — Anxiety is a symptom that is seen in many disorders and

nonpathological states (eg, stress-related anxiety). To diagnosis GAD, we rule out other
disorders that may present with similar symptoms. These include: (See 'Assessment and
Diagnosis' above.)

● Depression – GAD, major depression, and persistent depressive disorder (“dysthymia”),

may share some presenting features such as an insidious onset, protracted course,

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Generalized anxiety disorder in adults: Epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, course, assessment, and diagnosis

prominent dysphoria, and anxiety. We differentiate individuals with primary GAD from
those with other depressive disorders by the characteristics of the worry and the
presence or absence of associated symptoms. For example, individuals with depression
tend to brood self-critically about previous events and circumstances, whereas patients
with GAD tend to worry about future events. Furthermore, symptoms such as early
morning awakening, diurnal variation in mood, marked guilty preoccupations, and
suicidal thoughts may be present in depression but are uncommon in GAD. (See
"Unipolar depression in adults: Assessment and diagnosis".)

● Illness anxiety disorder and somatic symptom disorder – We differentiate symptoms

of GAD from illness anxiety disorder and somatic symptom disorder by the content of
the worries. For example, while worry about unexplained symptoms may be common in
all three of these disorders, worry in GAD usually concerns multiple different aspects of
life (physical symptoms, work, interpersonal, academics). This contrasts with individuals
with illness anxiety disorder who principally worry about developing an illness but have
few or mild physical symptoms. This also contrasts with individuals with somatic
symptom disorder who have concerns about specific and, often multiple, somatic
symptoms. (See "Illness anxiety disorder: Epidemiology, clinical presentation,
assessment, and diagnosis" and "Somatic symptom disorder: Epidemiology and clinical
presentation".)

● Panic disorder – We use the presence of unexpected or paroxysmal panic attacks in

differentiating panic disorder from severe uncontrollable worry associated with GAD.
Individuals with panic disorder have paroxysmal panic attacks whereas these are not
typical in individuals with GAD. While individuals with either disorder may focus on
physical or somatic symptoms, individuals with panic disorder typically have episodic
and intense periods of extreme worry about life-threatening acute illnesses, whereas
patients with GAD focus more persistently on less specific but more chronic complaints
typically involving multiple organ systems. (See "Panic disorder in adults: Epidemiology,
clinical manifestations, and diagnosis".)

● Adjustment disorder – We differentiate anxiety associated with adjustment disorder

from GAD by the presence of an identifiable stressor or stressors occurring within three

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Generalized anxiety disorder in adults: Epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, course, assessment, and diagnosis

months of the symptoms in adjustment disorder. In GAD, the symptoms are chronic and
while they may be related to chronic stressors of life, when they are within three months
of an acute stressor, the diagnosis of adjustment disorder is made.

● Obsessive-compulsive disorder – Individuals with GAD may manifest intrusive

thoughts and checking behaviors similar to those seen in OCD. However, in GAD the
themes are more often related to day to day worries (eg, finances, health, family), while
in OCD the compulsive behaviors tend to be related to primal fears such as
contamination or harm. Furthermore, in OCD the compulsions tend to be ritualistic or
“rule driven” (eg, must be done in a certain way) and either unrelated to the feared
outcome (eg, avoiding cracks on the sidewalk to prevent mother’s death) or clearly
excessive. This contrasts to GAD in which the checking is usually related to a feared
outcome (eg, checking locks to prevent break-ins), and is usually not as time consuming
or impairing. (See "Obsessive-compulsive disorder in adults: Epidemiology,
pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, course, and diagnosis".)

● Nonpathological anxiety – A spectrum of nonpathological anxiety is seen in many

individuals. We differentiate nonpathological anxiety from generalized anxiety by the
effect of the worry or anxiety on the individual. In GAD, the symptoms cause significant
distress or impairment in social, occupational or other areas of functioning. This
contrasts with nonpathological anxiety where there is minimal or no effect on these
areas of functioning. Subjectivity among individuals can make this differentiation
difficult. To accurately differentiate GAD from nonpathological anxiety, we pay careful
attention to the details of the history including work and psychosocial history for
evidence of distress or impairment secondary to the anxiety. As an example, in an
individual with anxiety that does not cause a change in the functioning at work (no
missed deadlines, difficulty completing tasks, lateness, or concentration problems) and
no other psychosocial changes, we would not be likely to diagnose GAD. In appropriate
cases, we obtain collateral information from family members.

SOCIETY GUIDELINE LINKS

Links to society and government-sponsored guidelines from selected countries and regions
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Generalized anxiety disorder in adults: Epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, course, assessment, and diagnosis

around the world are provided separately. (See "Society guideline links: Anxiety and anxiety
disorders in adults".)

SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS

● Epidemiology – Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is one of the most common

psychiatric disorders in community and clinical settings and is associated with increased
use of health care services. It is nearly twice as common in females as males. Common
comorbidities include depression, panic disorder, and phobia. (See 'Epidemiology'
above.)

● Clinical manifestations – Individuals with GAD experience worry about typical life
experiences such as work, health, and interpersonal relations. The symptoms are out of
proportion to the impact of the anticipated event. Other presenting symptoms
commonly include hyperarousal, autonomic hyperactivity, irritability, poor sleep, and
unexplained pain or muscle tension.

● Course – GAD usually has a gradual onset with subsyndromal anxiety commonly
presenting before age 20. The average onset of the disorder is 30. Late-onset GAD (eg,
≥50 years) is common and is associated with poor health-related quality of life. (See
'Onset' above.)

GAD tends to be a persistent illness with fluctuating symptom severity. It is associated

with substantial psychosocial impairment including occupational, social, and household
functioning. The presence of comorbid disorders (eg, depression) is associated with
more severe and prolonged course and greater impairment. (See 'Chronicity of
symptoms' above and 'Effects of illness' above.)

GAD is associated with poor cardiovascular health, coronary heart disease, and
cardiovascular mortality. (See 'Systemic effects' above.)

● Assessment – For patients who present with anxiety, we assess whether the frequency,
character, and severity of symptoms are consistent with GAD. We also evaluate for other
alternative or comorbid psychiatric and medical conditions that may also contribute to
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Generalized anxiety disorder in adults: Epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, course, assessment, and diagnosis

anxiety. In individuals with a suspected physical cause of anxiety (eg, weight loss,
confusion) and in individuals with later onset (>50 years old) of generalized anxiety, we
do a general physical screening examination and laboratory screening. (See
'Assessment' above.)

● Diagnosis – We diagnose GAD in individuals with excessive anxiety and troublesome

worry that occur on more days than not for at least six months, are associated with
somatic symptoms (muscle tension, irritability, sleep disturbance), are not due to effects
of substances or another medical condition, and cause clinically significant distress or
impairment in social, occupation, or other important areas of functioning. (See
'Diagnostic criteria' above.)

● Differential diagnosis – We differentiate anxiety due to GAD from other disorders that
may present with overlapping symptoms (eg, depression, panic disorder, adjustment
disorder) primarily by history. Major depression is particularly difficult to distinguish
from GAD due to shared symptoms of insidious onset, protracted course, and the
presence of dysphoria and anxiety. (See 'Differential diagnosis' above.)

REFERENCES

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2. Wittchen HU, Zhao S, Kessler RC, Eaton WW. DSM-III-R generalized anxiety disorder in the
National Comorbidity Survey. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1994; 51:355.

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