Anxiety Disorder: Generalised

Question 1

Generalised anxiety disorder

Answer 1

Excessive worry about about a number of different events, associated with heightened tension

Question 2

Clinical features of generalised anxiety

Answer 2

• excessive and persistent worry > 6 months
• difficulty controlling thoughts
• restless, on-edge
• fatigue
• reduced concentration
• irritable
• muscle tension
• poor sleep
• impaired daily functioning

Question 3

Differentials for generalised anxiety disorder

Answer 3

• hyperthyroid
• cardiac disease
• medication SE (salbutamol, corticosteroids, theophylline)
• caffeine

Question 4

Managing generalised anxiety disorder

Answer 4

Step-wise approach:
1. education & active monitoring
2. low-intensity psych interventions
3. high-intensity psych interventions & drug
4. specialised input

Question 5

Drug treatments for generalised anxiety disorder

Answer 5

1st Line - SSRI (sertraline)
Not effective? offer different SSRI or an SNRI (duloxetine, venlafaxine).
Not effective? try pregabalin

Question 6

Venlafaxine

Answer 6

An SNRI

Question 7

Duloxetine

Answer 7

an SNRI