Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Anxiety (anxiety) is an intense emotion similar to fear that many people experience at some point in their lives and are familiar with. Non-morbid anxiety is an important part of the response to stress, prompting a person to take action in a time of danger and helps one survive. In fact, normal levels of anxiety are logical, necessary, and vital. What brings the patient to the doctor or causes it to be called pathological anxiety is that a normal response and mechanism is disrupted, is more severe than expected, lasts longer than necessary, and disrupts the person’s daily life and functionality. The person perceives and defines anxiety as an unexplained distress, a feeling of worry, as if he were going to receive bad news or a disaster. Very mild uneasiness can be of varying intensities, ranging from a feeling of tension to panic.
What are the Current Diagnostic Criteria for Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
The diagnostic criteria for generalized anxiety disorder according to DSM-5 are as follows;
Extreme anxiety and delusion (anxious expectation) about certain events or activities (such as being successful at work or school) on most days for at least six months.
The person has difficulty in controlling his delusions.
This anxiety and delusion is accompanied by three (or more) of the following six symptoms. (at least some symptoms have been found on most days of the last six months):
1. Being restless (restless) or tense
2. Easy fatigue.
3. Difficulty concentrating or mind blowing.
4. Don’t get angry easily.
5. Muscle tension.
6. Sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep, or a lack of restful sleep.
What is the Frequency of Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
The frequency of generalized anxiety disorder is approximately 5-6%. Its incidence increases with age. It is 2 times more common in women than men.
What is the Treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
It is accepted that treatment methods such as drug therapy, behavioral and cognitive psychotherapies, and relaxation training are beneficial in the treatment of GAD. While psychotherapy is aimed at gaining coping skills and changing negative thoughts, it is aimed to reduce the level of anxiety with medical treatment. It would be appropriate to decide together with your doctor which type of treatment may be suitable for you. A treatment that is suitable for one person may not be suitable for another.
Resources :
Kaplan & Sadock’s Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry
Mental Health and Diseases Prof. Dr. M. Orhan Ozturk
Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder and New Approaches
Omer Saatcioglu
