1. Claudia Velgara Psychology Period 5

2. An anxiety disorder in which a person is continually tense, apprehensive, and in a state of autonomic nervous system arousal. A pattern of frequent and constant worry and anxiety over different activities and events.

3.  Diagnostic Features:  This diagnosis is assigned to people who experience excessive anxiety and worry occurring more days than not for at least 6 months, pertaining to a number of events or activities, such as work or school.  Their anxiety, worry, or related physical symptoms cause significant distress or impairment.  They find it difficult to control their worry.  They worry for family or relationship problems, work issues, money, health, and other problems.  Their anxiety and worry are associated with at least three of the following: Restlessness Being easily fatigued Concentration difficulty Irritability Muscle tension Sleep disturbance

4.  Family and social environment  Many people with generalized anxiety disorder were maltreated and inhibited as children.  Stressful life situations leads to generalized anxiety disorder.  Biological  Genes may play a role in GAD and is suggested that they have a biological abnormality.

5. GAD is more common in women. in the general population the sex ratio is 2/3 female Clinical settings 55 to 60 percent of clients diagnosed with this condition are women. Most people with GAD may have another disorder particularly a depressive disorder. GAD is the most prevalent anxiety disorder in older adults Most cases begin in early life, but stressful events in later adulthood.

6. The goal of treatment is to help you function well during day-to-day life. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and medications are very important for this to happen.  Medications Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are usually the first choice in medication. Other antidepressants and some antiseizure drugs may be used for severe cases. A medication called buspirone may also be used.

7.  Cognitive-behavioral therapies should be used together with drug therapy. Ten to 20 visits with a mental health professional should take place over a number of weeks. Common parts of this therapy include: Learning to recognize and replace panic-causing thoughts, decreasing the sense of helplessness. Learning stress management and relaxation techniques to help when symptoms occur. Learning not to quickly think that minor worries will develop into very bad problems.  Avoiding caffeine, illicit drugs, and even some cold medicines may also help reduce symptoms.  A healthy lifestyle that includes exercise, enough rest, and good nutrition can help reduce the impact of anxiety.

8.  The success of treatment usually depends on the severity of the Generalized anxiety disorder. The disorder may continue and be difficult to treat, but most patients see great improvement with medications and behavioral therapy.  People with GAD may develop other psychiatric disorders, such as panic disorder or depression.  GAD may lead to physical problem such as high blood pressure.

9.  Berger, FK. [2/14/2010] generalized anxiety disorder. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001915/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001915/  Borkovec, TD. [2001] generalized anxiety disorder(DSM-IV-TR #300.02)  http://www.brown.edu/Courses/BI_278/Other/Clerkship/Didactics/Readin gs/gad.pdf http://www.brown.edu/Courses/BI_278/Other/Clerkship/Didactics/Readin gs/gad.pdf

10.  How does generalized anxiety disorder make a person abnormal?