Generalized Anxiety Disorder – Diagnostic Interview

• Are you a worrier? (patient may have an anxious temperament)
• What do you worry about?
• Have you been worrying about simple things you shouldn’t be worrying about?
• Can you tell me your specific thoughts?
• How long have you had these worries? (at least 6 months to satisfy criteria)
• Over the past few months of worrying, have you noticed that you have been jittery, on edge? Irritable?
• Headaches, or tension in your head and neck?
• What has your sleep been like? (Initial and middle insomnia or restless unsatisfying sleep)
• Do you have problems concentrating?

To learn more about psychiatric interviewing visit psychinterview.com for 90+ videos on interview techniques for a range of psychiatric disorders.

Clinically it can be difficult to differentiate between agitation and anxiety. This difference is important as some antidepressants may worsen agitation. Agitation is a risk factor for suicide. Presence of agitation may require augmentation treatment with Antipsychotics.

Agitation is often accompanied by other mixed features.

Features that point to agitation include: 

1. Racing thoughts
2. Pressure of speech
3. Presence of overvalued or delusional thoughts (indicates psychosis and not anxiety disorder)
4. Pacing, wringing of hands
5. Impulsive behaviour

Learn about the diagnosis and management of generalized anxiety disorder in more detail. 

Prof Sean Hood talks about Anxiety disorders