Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Generalized Anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by Anxiety symptoms that are present for much of the time and is not restricted to specific situations. It often accompanies phobias and is extremely common in people who are depressed.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder can be caused by physical illness such as an over-active thyroid gland or result from the emotional response to a serious illness such as a heart attack.

Some 15 percent of people with Generalized Anxiety Disorder have a brother, sister or parent with a similar problem. This may reflect an inherited tendency to the disorder or the effects of the family environment. Two thirds of sufferers of this Anxiety disorder are women. Patients with generalized anxiety disorder experience worry or anxiety and a number of physical and psychologic symptoms.

The prevalence of GAD in the general population aged between 15 and 54 years is approximately 5.1%. GAD most often strikes people in childhood or adolescence, but can begin in adulthood, too. It affects women more often than men.

What are the Risk Factors of Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) ?

There are biological and environmental risk factors for GAD, which include the following:

Environmental stressors (e.g., work, school, relationships)
Genetics
Sleep deprivation, sleep inconsistency

Stressful situations in the following areas can intensify symptoms:

Financial concerns
Health
Relationships
School problems
Work problems

Related topics of Anxiety

What is Anxiety

Symptoms of Anxiety

Causes of Anxiety Disorders

Types of Anxiety Disorder

Treatment of Anxiety Disorders

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