1. Panic and Generalized Anxiety Disorder

2. Basic Info  Generalized Anxiety Disorder, GAD, is an anxiety disorder characterized by chronic anxiety, exaggerated worry and tension, even when there is little or nothing to provoke it.

3. Symptoms  People with generalized anxiety disorder can't seem to shake their concerns. Their worries are accompanied by physical symptoms, especially fatigue, headaches, muscle tension, muscle aches, difficulty swallowing, trembling, twitching, irritability, sweating, and hot flashes.

4. Diagnosis (Child)  A  A child psychiatrist or other qualified mental health professional usually diagnoses anxiety disorders in children or adolescents following a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation. Parents who note symptoms of severe anxiety in their child or teen can help by seeking an evaluation and treatment early. Early treatment may help prevent future problems.

5. Diagnosis (Adult)  Major anxiety disorders are more prevalent in women than in men. Although the tendency toward anxiety disorders appears familial, other factors such as environmental influences can play a role in the risk for anxiety. This clinical review focuses on the pathophysiologic basis for anxiety disorders. It provides brief overviews of panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. It also summarizes treatment options for patients with anxiety disorders.

6. Those Affected eeeevery child and teen goes through anxiety, but when it carries on into adulthood and interferes with daily life it becomes GAD. children who have parents that have GAD are more likely to have GAD.

7. Interesting Facts  1) GAD affects 6.8 million American adults in a given year.  2) This disorder frequently begins in young adulthood.  3) GAD is treatable. It is commonly treated with medication and/or cognitive-behavioral therapy.  4) GAD rarely occurs alone. It is usually accompanied by other anxiety disorders, depression, and/or substance abuse.  5) In general, anxiety disorders affect about 40 million American adults each year.

8. Treatment  Effective treatments for anxiety disorders are available, and research is yielding new, improved therapies that can help most people with anxiety disorders lead productive, fulfilling lives

9. Example of A Panic Attack  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABsdH Uay6GA&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABsdH Uay6GA&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABsdH Uay6GA&feature=related

10. References  http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/generaliz ed-anxiety-disorder-gad/index.shtml http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/generaliz ed-anxiety-disorder-gad/index.shtml http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/generaliz ed-anxiety-disorder-gad/index.shtml  http://www.yellowpages.com/ http://www.yellowpages.com/  http://www.activeminds.org/storage/activemind s/documents/active_minds_facts_sheets.pdf http://www.activeminds.org/storage/activemind s/documents/active_minds_facts_sheets.pdf http://www.activeminds.org/storage/activemind s/documents/active_minds_facts_sheets.pdf  http://www.yellowpages.com http://www.yellowpages.com