Generalised Anxiety Disorder

Generalised Anxiety Disorder

·        Worry about worry: a meta-worry!

·        Excessive and persistent worry about a number of areas of life including family, health, job, finances, etc

·        Worrying dominant source of discomfort: spend half an average day worrying – most recognise they worry excessively about minor things but can‟t control it

·        At least six-month duration, chronic fluctuating course

·        Epidemiology: 2 – 8 % of the population, onset 20 – 40 years, male = female

·        Symptoms: restlessness, feeling on edge, difficulty concentrating, mind going blank, irritability, muscle tension, sleep disturbance (esp difficulty getting back to sleep after waking, anticipatory thoughts while awake)

·        Co-morbidity/differential: mood disorders, adjustment disorder (clearly identifiable stressor), panic attacks, socially anxious, low self-esteem, avoidant or dependent personality disorder

·        Treatment:

o   Education

o   Training: relaxation, breathing control, structured problem solving, gradual confrontation of fears 

o   Avoid sedatives: they will love them but will become dependent on them and underlying problems won‟t be fixed

o   Specialist referral if symptoms persist for a further 3 months