Generalised Anxiety Disorder

Question 1

What is Generalised Anxiety Disorder?

Answer 1

Generalised severe freefloating anxiety (not linked to specific event or circumstance)

Question 2

What is the aetiology of Generalised Anxiety Disorder?

Answer 2

Genetic predisposition, general life stress, current stress.

Question 3

What is the epidemiology of Generalised Anxiety disorder?

Answer 3

High risk in childhood eposure to separation, demands for high achievement and excessive conformity. Lifetime prevalence 5%.

Question 4

What would you find in the history and examination of GAD?

Answer 4

Sx present for several days, several weks at a time. These include:

· Apprehension: wories about future, on edge feeling

· Motor tension: restless, fidgeting, headaches

· Autonomic overactivity: high HR, sweating, dry mouth, epigastric pain.

Question 5

What investigations would you do for GAD?

Answer 5

FBC, UE, TFT, Ca, LFTs.

Question 6

What is the management of GAD?

Answer 6

Psychoeducation, distraction techniques, cognitive control, breathing/reflection techniques.

BZD may be useful in short term but not in long term due to dependence.

Question 7

What are the complications/ prognosis of GAD?

Answer 7

Depressive illness, substance misuse, Often chronic and worse at times of stress. Worse pgx if coexisting psyhciatric illness.