diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorders

diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorders

The diagnosis of Generalized anxiety disorders (GAD) is often complex due to the nature of symptoms, which mimic other mental and physical disorders, as well as comorbid presence of other mental disorders. There are two primary diagnostic tools used by healthcare workers worldwide to detect GAD, including international classification of mental disorder (ICD ) and Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM IV). Recent revisions of both ICD 10 and DSM IV have provided healthcare practitioners more accurate and reliable diagnosis of GAD.

DSM IV has specified the diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis of GAD. These are excessive anxiety and worry, occurring more days than not for at least six months, about a number of events and activities. The person finds difficult to control the worry. The anxiety and worry are associated with at least three of six symptoms (with at least some symptoms present for more days than not for the past six months). These symptoms included:

(1) Restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge.

(2) Being easily fatigued.

(3) Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank.

(4) Irritability.

(5) Muscle tension.

(6) Sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying a sleep, or restless unsatisfying sleep).

Both DSM IV and ICD 10 recommended the presence of similar symptoms for diagnosis of GAD but they require different duration for these symptoms. DSM IV requires that symptoms have been present for six months. However the clinical version of ICD 10 has the less stringent requirement, that symptoms should have been present for most days for at least several weeks at time and usually several months..

GAD may also cause physical symptoms such as shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, dry mouth, cold hands and dizziness. Other physical illnesses and symptoms that commonly occur along with GAD include chest pain, hyperventilation, chronic fatigue syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome.

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