Diagnosis

You may be diagnosed as having GAD if you are experiencing:

• excessive anxiety and worry about a number of events or activities;
• worry that is difficult to control and live a normal life with;
• anxiety associated with restlessness, fatigue, difficulties with concentration, irritability, muscle tension and sleep disturbance.

It would be usual for these symptoms to have been experienced for about six months in order for a diagnosis of GAD to be made.

A complication with diagnosis of GAD is that many other medical conditions produce anxiety symptoms.   These should be treated separately so that they don’t adversely affect the treatment of the anxious patient. 

Some conditions, such as those associated with the thyroid, are possible causes of anxiety symptoms.  Certain neurological conditions, such as brain tumours and strokes, may be associated with symptoms observed in GAD, but are rare and would require appropriate evaluation.

Many drugs and substances cause anxiety symptoms.  Excessive caffeine use or withdrawal may cause significant anxiety symptoms.  Withdrawal from alcohol and sedatives are also often underestimated as a potential cause of anxiety.  The same drugs may be used to treat anxiety symptoms so the symptoms may be difficult to differentiate from withdrawal symptoms associated with their use.

People with GAD may also have other anxiety disorders such as panic disorder, phobic anxiety disorders and OCD.  They may also be suffering from depression.