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Generalized
Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by excessive anxiety and
worry (apprehensive expectation), occurring more days than not for at
least six months, about a number of events or activities (such as
work or school performance). A person diagnosed with GAD will exhibit
at least three of the following symptoms:
- Restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge
- Being easily
fatigued
- Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank
- Irritability
- Muscle tension
- Sleep disturbance
(difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless unsatisfying
sleep)
The
focus of the anxiety or worry is not confined to a specific area but
is generalized and constant. Nor is the anxiety the result of drug
abuse or a general medical condition. The anxiety, worry or physical
symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in
social, occupational or other important areas of functioning. The
lifetime prevalence is approximately 4 to 6 percent in the general
population and is more common in women than in men. It is often
chronic, and patients with this disorder are more likely to be seen
by family physicians than by psychiatrists.
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