Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a common mental health condition characterized by persistent, excessive, and difficult-to-control worry about a wide range of everyday concerns, out of proportion to actual circumstances and lasting for an extended period. Unlike ordinary day-to-day worry, the anxiety in GAD is …
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a common mental health condition characterized by persistent, excessive, and difficult-to-control worry about a wide range of everyday concerns, out of proportion to actual circumstances and lasting for an extended period. Unlike ordinary day-to-day worry, the anxiety in GAD is chronic and pervasive, and it causes significant distress and impairment in daily functioning. It is typically accompanied by physical and cognitive symptoms such as restlessness, muscle tension, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and disturbed sleep, reflecting sustained activation of the body's stress-response systems. GAD arises from an interaction of genetic, neurobiological, psychological, and environmental factors, with dysregulation of stress physiology, including cortisol and the autonomic response, contributing to its presentation, as illustrated by research on stress-related cortisol and anxiety under experimental stressors. It frequently co-occurs with depression and other anxiety and stress-related conditions, including post-traumatic stress, and contextual pressures such as those experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic can heighten symptoms. Assessment relies on clinical interview and standardized scales that gauge the severity and impact of worry and associated symptoms. Management combines psychological therapies, pharmacological treatment, and complementary and stimulation-based approaches aimed at reducing the stress response and anxiety. Studying generalized anxiety disorder integrates clinical psychology, psychiatry, and stress physiology to understand its mechanisms, recognize its features, and guide effective, individualized treatment.
7 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 7 articles above have been cited 33 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Generalized Anxiety Disorder, linking to each citing work.