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Generalized anxiety disorder

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment

Alternative Names:

GAD; Anxiety disorder

Symptoms:

Anxiety and worry are often associated with the following symptoms:

• Restlessness or feeling keyed up or "on the edge"
• Being easily fatigued
• Difficulty concentrating
• Irritability
• Muscle tension -- shakiness, headaches
• Sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep; or restless, unsatisfying sleep)
• Excessive sweating, palpitations, shortness of breath, and various gastrointestinal symptoms

Signs and tests:

A physical examination and a psychological evaluation should be completed in order to rule out other causes of anxiety. Physical disorders that may mimic an anxiety state should be ruled out, as well as drug-induced symptoms. Various diagnostic tests may be done in this process.

References:

Moore DP, Jefferson JW. Handbook of Medical Psychiatry . 2nd ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2004: 174-175.

Noble J. Textbook of Primary Care Medicine . 3rd ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2001:416.

• Review Date: 5/8/2006
• Reviewed By: Paul Ballas, D.O., Department of Psychiatry, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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