Anxiety Disorders Association of Victoria, Inc.

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ADAVIC Information Sheets

Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Generalized Anxiety is excessive anxiety and worry about the possibility of everyday and real life problems occurring, (eg. Job difficulties, financial pressures, being late for appointments, family members becoming ill).

• The anxiety and worry has been present most days over a 6-month period.
• The person finds it difficult to control their anxiety.
• The anxiety and worry has led to the person experiencing at least 3/6 symptoms listed bellow.
• restlessness, feeling edgy,
• easily fatigued,
• difficulty concentrating and mind goes blank,
• irritability,
• muscle tension
• sleep disturbance.
• The anxiety, worry and physical symptoms cane distress and significantly affect social, occupational or other areas of functioning.

Children and adolescents with Generalized Anxiety often worry about school performance and sporting prowess. They may also worry about being punctual or 'acts of God' such as earthquakes. floods etc. and nuclear war. These children may be perfectionists and require an excessive amount of reassurance about their performance.  
 
Generalized Anxiety affects more women than men, 2:1 and tends to begin in childhood and adolescence.  
 
TREATMENT OF GENERALISED ANXIETY DISORDER  
 
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy  
 
Cognitive Behavioural therapy aims to change the maladaptive beliefs, attitudes and expectations sufferers have in relation to their worries and fears. In other words, therapy teaches people to change their negative, irrational thoughts into more rational ones, as how one thinks affects how one feels.  
 
Cognitive Behavioural therapy has been shown to be an effective treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder, however it can't eradicate the anxiety completely.  
 
Your therapist will also suggest relaxation training, e.g. deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation etc.  
 
The advantages of cognitive behavioural therapy are that it-

• provides the sufferer with new ways of coping
• gives the person more control over their thoughts, feelings and behaviour

 
 
Medication  
 
Some people choose to combine psychological and pharmacological treatment.  
 
Medication is also used to treat Generalized Anxiety. Benzodiazepines are commonly used as they provide relief for most sufferers. However, side effects can include:  

• impaired cognitive functioning,
• drowsiness,
• lethargy, etc.,

if the person is on a high dose.  
 
Following prolonged use of benzodiazepines a person may become physically and psychologically dependent upon them. Ceasing benzodiazepines may result in: rebound anxiety (intensification of the previous anxiety symptoms), withdrawal syndrome, relapse of the original symptoms.  
 
Given the potential for physical and psychological dependence, it has been recommended that benzodiazepines be used intermittently and at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time.  
 
Another drug, buspirone, which is NOT a benzodiazepine, is also used to treat Generalized Anxiety. Unlike benzodiazepines, buspirone produces:

• virtually no sedative effects
• no withdrawal syndrome
• no rebound anxiety

Like benzodiazepines when you cease medication the original symptoms may return.  
 
If you have any concerns about your medication, raise them with your treating doctor.  

This information was provided by Catherine Madigan, Clinical Psychologist who can be contacted on 9819-3671 or mobile 0419-104-284

 

 

 

Posted 2003