Brief diagnosis of case
Based on the information provided, Mary meets diagnostic criteria for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5) (APA, 2013). Mary experiences excessive anxiety and worry, occurring more days than not for at least six months, about a number of events (work, friends, health). Mary reported that it is difficult to control the worry. The anxiety and worry are associated with the following symptoms, which are present for more days than not: difficulty concentrating or mind going blank, irritability, and sleep disturbance. The anxiety, worry, or physical symptoms cause significant distress or impairment in Mary’s social and
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It is believed that these experiences become learned behaviors through the modeling of their parents. It is also common to see children diagnosed with GAD where parents had either an anxiety disorder or major depression. Other factors associated with the diagnosis of GAD are age, gender, marital status, and stressful life events. In general, through adolescents and young adulthood (13-32 years of age) is the accepted age of onset for anxiety disorders (Dogan, 2012). This has also been found to be true of GAD specifically. In the case of both anxiety disorders in general and GAD specifically, there are a higher percentage of women than men diagnosed (Dogan, 2012). More precisely, women are twice as likely than men to experience GAD according to the DSM-5 (APA, 2013). A study published by Dogan (2012), reported that those who are single, divorced, separated, or widowed experience higher rates of GAD. This is also true for individuals who experience stressful life events in both childhood and adulthood (Dogan, 2012). It has also been found that individuals of European descent experience GAD more frequently than other individuals (APA, 2013).
Summary of Literature on Effective Treatments One of the most effective evidence-based treatments offered for GAD includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The goal of
GAD affects approximately 6.8 million Americans, or about 3.1% of the population, between the ages of 18 and 54. (www.helpguide.org) Women are affected almost twice the number of times as men. Sadly, almost 2/3 of all people with a severe mental illness never receive treatment. (www.mentalhealth.com) The cost of treating patients with anxiety disorders (including GAD) are astronomical. According to "The Economic Burden of Anxiety Disorders," a study commissioned by the ADAA and based on data gathered by the association and published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, anxiety disorders cost the U.S. more than $42 billion a year, almost one third of the $148 billion total mental health bill for the U.S. More than $22.84 billion of those costs are associated with the repeated use of healthcare services, as those with anxiety disorders seek relief for symptoms that mimic physical illnesses. People with an anxiety disorder are three-to-five times more likely to go to the doctor and six times more likely to be hospitalized for psychiatric disorders than non-sufferers. (www.anxietycentre.com)
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is an anxiety disorder that is characterized by excessive, uncontrollable and often irrational worry about everyday things that is disproportionate to the actual source of worry. This excessive worry often interferes with daily functioning, as individuals suffering GAD typically anticipate disaster, and are overly concerned about everyday matters such as health issues, money, death, family problems, friend problems, relationship problems or work difficulties.[1] They often exhibit a variety of physical symptoms, including fatigue, fidgeting, headaches, nausea, numbness in hands and feet, muscle tension, muscle aches, difficulty swallowing, bouts of difficulty breathing, trembling, twitching, irritability,
Those with GAD experience lavish amounts of worry, usually anticipating the worst even when there is no reason to. Unlike phobias, the anxiety isn't connected directly to something, it just a worry that is always present. These worries that these individuals experience are what normal people experience, such as reaching to work safely, but taken to the extreme. The difference between normal worrying and GAD is that, is that the worrying involved in GAD is excessive and often unnecessary. For example, after watching a news report about a school shooting, the average person might feel a temporary sense of worry for their kids. If you have GAD, however, the individual might be up all night after it and continue worrying for days about a worst case scenario that could happen, maybe even keeping your kids from going to school. To deal with GAD, individuals are given suggestions such as to practice deep breathing, meditation. In terms of treatment, presciprdtions are often given to them. One of the drugs prescribed to patients is buspirone. This is an anti-anxiety drug and takes the edge off but does not completely eliminate the anxious feeling. Benzodiazepine is also a drug prescribed which calms the body (“Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by excessive anxiety and worry that is not limited to one subject, situation or activity (Nevid, Rathus & Greene, 2017). People with GAD are known to worry about many things in their lives; their health, their finances, their well-being and that of their children. It is a worry that can be describe as excess and one that impairs one from functioning (Nevid, Rathus & Greene, 2017).
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is one of the most diagnosed mental disorders today, and can often be closely linked to concurrent symptoms or disorders including physiological, behavioral, other anxiety disorders, depression and substance abuse. (Merino, Senra & Ferreiro, 2016) (Cacioppo & Fregberg, 2013, p. 688). GAD most notably produces symptoms of excessive worry and anxiety related to non-specific risks, which often leads to functional decline both socially and professionally (Roberge et al., 2015). GAD reveals instances of links to biological origins such as heredity and biochemistry, as well as, ties to an individual’s cognitive development and socioeconomic environment (Cacioppo & Fregberg, 2013).
Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric disorder in the United States. Between 15 - 19% of the population suffers from this disorder, which impairs the quality of life and functioning (Stuart 218). What is anxiety? Abnormal Psychology describes anxiety as “an adaptive emotion that helps us plan and prepare for a possible theat.” The text book further states, “worrying about many different aspects of life becomes chronic, excessive, and unreasonable.” This is also known as generalized anxiety disorder or GAD (Butcher 201). DSM IV-TR specifies that GAD is a worry that occurs more days then not for at least 6 months, and that it must be experienced as difficult to control (Butcher 201). 25% of those that suffer from this
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by persistent, excessive, and unrealistic worry about everyday things. People with the disorder often experience exaggerated fear and expect the worst, even when there is no apparent reason for concern. They anticipate disaster and are overly concerned about money, health, family, work, or other issues. This disorder affects 6.8 million adults, or 3.1% of the U.S. population, in any given year (Van der Heiden, 2011). GAD comes on gradually and can endure across the life cycle, though the risk is highest between childhood and middle age. Women are twice as likely to be affected.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a very common anxiety disorder; symptoms include nervousness, worrying and tension. The anxiety is not linked to one thing and patients can be overwhelmed by a general feeling of dread. A patient with GAD will worry about the same things as any unaffected person, for example, their health, personal relationships or work. What sets them apart is that the degree of worry or tension is higher than normal levels. The worrying can be both persistent and debilitating. Symptoms are moderate but long lasting persisting for longer than one month. Possible treatment methods for GAD include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Psychopharmacological Therapy, and Acceptance Based Behaviour Therapy. It will be argued that CBT is overall a better treatment for GAD and has been found to be effective and tolerable in the treatment of GAD.
Consequently, it is important to carefully follow diagnostic features provided in DSM-V for each type of anxiety disorder in order to avoid misdiagnose. In the United States, 18.1% of the adult population suffers from different anxiety disorders, and lifetime prevalence of GAD is among 5.7% of those adults (Kessler, 2005).
Generalized anxiety disorder(GAD) is much more than the normal anxiety people experience everyday. It is a chronic condition that is chracterized by excessive worry and anxiety, even though there aren't any reasonable explanations for the cause. It is diagnosed when a person spends a least 6 months worrying excessively about numerous everyday problems.
The basis and length of Ms. Hendricks symptoms of worry, and feeling overwhelmed is closely related to Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a highly prevalent disorder characterized by excessive worry or anxiety about everyday events, whether they are internal or external or originating in the past, present, and/or future (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). The symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder result from increase, typical, inflexible interactions of cognitive, imaginal, and physiological responses that constantly perceived to be a threat (Barlow, 1988; Borkovec & Inz, 1990). The lifetime prevalence rate of Generalized Anxiety Disorder in the United States is estimated to be approximately 4–7% with current prevalence rates ranging from 1.5–3% (Blazer et al. 1991). These rates could be as high as 5–8%, if the International Classification of Diseases and Health Related Problems (ICD-10) are used as the basis for diagnosis (Ustun and Sartorius ,1995).
According to the Mayo Clinic, genetics may play a role as well as other factors, but is not fully known. Some of the risk factors for GAD is personality, genetics, and sex. With personality, a person who is shy, have negative thoughts, or who avoids dangerous situations may be more prone to generalized anxiety disorder than others are. GAD may run in the family, thus being a genetic factor. Also, women are more prone to have GAD than men. The common two treatments for GAD include medication and psychotherapy. Psychotherapy
Joe Steven, is reported a continuous and extensive worry about his family responsibilities. The major worry about him is how to meet up with his wife and children needs and his mother’s present health condition. He also worried about his children school fees, and if they will make it in future or not. Mark started worry about how to secure his job position, he completely found himself felt with anxiety. Despite that he has a good job that pays him well. He reported that the worry and the anxiety has been troubling him for the past 12 months. Since then, he started felling tiredness, weakness of the muscles tension, difficult in sleeping, difficult in concentrating and focus on his work. The main worry and anxiety is getting worst whenever he received a mail from his children school. He always thinks that the mail he got is about his children school fees. Even though, the mail is another activities or his children school performance. Due to his sleeping problem, his wife suggested him to take some work leave so that they will go for vacation at Bermuda. She thinks that
The average age of onset of generalized anxiety disorder is 31 years old. Generalized anxiety disorder affects about 6.8 million American adults. This disorder can develop at any point in the life cycle, but the highest risk is between childhood and middle age.
According to the Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5 (2013), Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is classified as having excessive anxiety and worry occurring more often than not for at least 6 months, that is difficult to control and that impairs daily functioning. At least three symptoms must be present and include restlessness, easily fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension and sleep disturbance.