Generalised Anxiety Disorder – Diagnosis and Management

Posted on:September 16, 2020
Last Updated: May 23, 2022
Time to read: 10–12 minutes

Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by persistent feelings of fear and worry about everyday things that are difficult to control. [APA 2013]

Epidemiological research shows that:

  • The median age of onset is in the early ’30s and it is two times more prevalent in women than in men.
  • The general prevalence in children under the age of 18 is between 5.7% and 12.8% and there is an estimated lifetime prevalence of 6%.
  • GAD is more common in individuals that are separated, divorced, or widowed.
  • Low educational attainment and unemployment are also consistently associated with GAD, which may be related to an individual’s poor level of cognitive skills i.e. memory and problem-solving.
  • The functional impairment associated with GAD is comparable to that of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).

We have covered Social Anxiety Disorder in Adults – Practical Clinical Guidance for Diagnosis and Management

References

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