It's also said that women notice more physical or somatic symptoms as a result of anxiety. Although people of any gender can have generalized anxiety disorder, according to the AADA, women are twice as likely to develop an anxiety disorder than men are. Of those adults, it's said that around 32.3% experience serious impairment as a result of the disorder. Statistics indicate that generalized anxiety disorder impacts 6.8 million individuals aged 18 and up in the United States alone.
However, it is more prevalent in certain populations, and there are risk factors that may contribute to the development of the condition. Who Gets Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?Īnyone can get generalized anxiety disorder. In the DSM, the generalized anxiety disorder code is F41.1. To be diagnosed, it's also included in the DSM criteria that the GAD symptoms one experiences are not attributed to substance use or a mood disorder (though these can co-occur). For example, if someone with anxiety related to their eating disorder also experiences fear or worry related to driving, talking on the phone, work, and school, they may have both GAD and an eating disorder. It is possible to have other mental health conditions in addition to GAD, but the worries considered for the diagnosis of GAD specifically must span outside of those affiliated with other disorders. Sleep disturbances (insomnia, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, or unsatisfying, restless sleep)Īdditionally, the DSM criteria clarifies that the disturbance (anxiety) one experiences must not be more appropriately explained by another mental health condition (for example, someone may experience worries and disturbances better explained by post-traumatic stress disorder or an eating disorder, in which case they may not have GAD).Trouble concentrating or mind going blank.Restlessness or feeling "keyed up" or on edge.The excessive worry and anxiety one experiences are accompanied by three or more of the following symptoms, with at least some symptoms present for more days than not for the past six (or more) months:.The worry, anxiety, or other symptoms of GAD, such as physical symptoms, cause significant distress or impede on a person's ability to function in important areas of their life (work, school, social ventures, and other obligations or daily activities).The individual finds the worry difficult to control.An individual experiences excessive anxiety and worry about varying events or activities for six months or more.Here is an overview and explanation of the DSM criteria for someone to be diagnosed with GAD: To be diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, you will have to meet the criteria for GAD listed in the current DSM.ĭSM-5 Criteria For Generalized Anxiety Disorder When anxious, someone with GAD may also experience symptoms such as a pounding heart, rapid heartbeat, or heart palpitations. Difficulty concentrating or focusing, with no other cause.Other signs and symptoms of GAD may include: Signs Of General Anxiety Or Generalized Anxiety Disorderīy definition, generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive worry, but there are more signs and symptoms of GAD that one can look out for. That is one of the many reasons why it's important to break the stigma surrounding mental health conditions like GAD. Anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder are often misunderstood, which can make them even harder to live with. Paired with the other symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, this excessive and disproportionate anxiety can impact a person's life in multiple areas, including work, education, interpersonal relationships, and the ability to engage in daily tasks or obligations. Simply put, generalized anxiety disorder, often referred to as GAD, is an anxiety disorder characterized by pervasive and excessive or disproportionate worry. To understand the current diagnostic criteria for generalized anxiety disorder, you must first understand what it is on a basic level. What Is Generalized Anxiety Disorder In A Nutshell? Generalized anxiety disorder is a common condition that is identified under the category of anxiety disorders in the DSM. In the DSM, there are various categories of mental health disorders, including neurodevelopmental disorders, anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders, bipolar and related disorders, obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, trauma and stressor-related disorders, feeding and eating disorders, dissociative disorders, personality disorders, and more. The most recently published version of the DSM at this time is the DSM-5, which was released in 2013. The diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, frequently referred to as the DSM, is used by healthcare providers to categorize and diagnose mental disorders.