Knowra Generalized anxiety disorder Generalized anxiety disorder Generalized anxiety disorder is marked by excessive, persistent worry across multiple areas of life that is difficult to control. It can involve restlessness, muscle tension, fatigue, irritability, impaired concentration, and sleep disturbance.
Intolerance of uncertainty : A tendency to find uncertain situations distressing and respond to them with worry or avoidance. Uncertainty can trigger the recurring worry characteristic of this disorder.
Applied relaxation : A behavioral treatment that teaches relaxation skills for use when anxiety begins to rise. It is a psychotherapy approach used to manage tension and anxious arousal.
Anxiety : A state of apprehension and heightened alertness in response to anticipated threat or uncertainty. The disorder is one persistent, impairing form of anxiety.
Anxiety neurosis : A historical psychiatric diagnosis that grouped anxiety symptoms before modern diagnostic classifications separated anxiety disorders. Earlier classifications combined symptoms later divided into distinct diagnoses, including this one.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder : A disorder involving obsessions, compulsions, or both, often performed to reduce distress or prevent feared outcomes. Its intrusive obsessions and repetitive rituals distinguish it from generalized everyday worry.
Worry : A chain of thoughts about possible future problems and their consequences. Excessive, hard-to-control worry is the disorder’s defining feature.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor : A class of medicines that increases serotonin signaling by blocking its reuptake into neurons. SSRIs are commonly prescribed medication options for this disorder.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders : A classification manual published by the American Psychiatric Association for diagnosing mental disorders. Its criteria specify the duration, symptoms, and impairment required for diagnosis in the United States.
DSM-III : The third edition of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, published in 1980. It established a distinct diagnostic category for generalized anxiety disorder.
Post-traumatic stress disorder : A disorder that can follow trauma and involve intrusive memories, avoidance, negative mood, and heightened arousal. Its symptoms are organized around traumatic exposure, unlike worry spanning many life domains.
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