ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Generalized anxiety disorder

What is Generalized anxiety disorder?

21:56 - 4 May , 2021

Disease

It is a condition in which the patient is in a continuous state of severe stress, nervousness, and worry related to multiple aspects of their life, whether they are present, past, or future events, as well as normal or extraordinary activities, affecting their social development and daily life.

Generalized anxiety disorder can appear at any age, but it is more common in women, who have twice the risk of developing it than men.

Regularly, this condition appears together with other psychological disorders, so, many times, simultaneous treatment is required for all of them, the most advisable being a combination of psychotherapy and drugs.

The origin of this mental disorder is the result of biological and environmental issues, such as:

  • Physiological and chemical brain abnormalities.
  • Genetic aspects.
  • Situation perception problems.
  • Personality traits.
  • Social factors.

Signs and symptoms Generalized anxiety disorder

Psychological:

  • Excessive nervousness and worry about situations that do not warrant it.
  • Always expect the worst in all kinds of events.
  • Excessive perception of unimportant events and activities, seeing them as worrying threats.
  • Uncertainty and constant doubts.
  • Indecision.
  • Lack of ability to rest, have fun, relax, or forget about worries for a while.
  • Concentration problems.
  • Irritability.

Physical:

  • Excessive sweating.
  • Nausea.
  • Vomit.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Tiredness.
  • Insomnia.
  • Muscle pains.
  • Tremors.

Diagnosis and treatment Generalized anxiety disorder

Once your doctor analyzes your symptoms and clinical history, they will perform a physical examination, and request blood and urine tests, in addition to a psychological evaluation through specialized questionnaires.

After referring you to a mental health specialist, the treatment will depend on the severity of your symptoms and to what degree it has affected your life, but psychotherapy and drugs such as antidepressants and anxiolytics are usually combined.

At the Neurological Center, a select group of highly trained and certified doctors in the various neurological specialties are ready to assist you with the quality and warmth that characterizes us.

Specialists

Nervous system specialties

  • Neurology
  • Neurosurgery
  • S
  • Pediatric neurosurgery
  • Neurophysiology
  • Neuro-rehabilitation
  • Neuro-pathology
  • Interventional neuro-radiology
  • Neuropsychology
  • Neuro-oncology
  • Neuro-otology
  • Epilepsy
  • Neuro-ophthalmology
  • Neuroimaging

Fuentes:

  • topdoctors.es
  • childmind.org
  • mayocilinic.org
  • medlineplus.gov
  • msdmanuals.com
  • medigraphic.com
  • Gaitán-Rossi P, Pérez-Hernández V, Vilar-Compte M, et al. Prevalencia mensual de trastorno de ansiedad generalizada durante la pandemia por Covid-19 en México. Salud Pública Mex. 2021;63(4):478-485.
  • Palomo FMJ. Desarrollo, implantación y evaluación de un programa de auto-ayuda guiada para el tratamiento del trastorno de ansiedad generalizada a través de internet: un estudio exploratorio. Rev Elec Psic Izt. 2020;23(3):1211-1228.
  • Marjan LPMP, Mendieta CD, Muñoz SMA, et al. Calidad de vida y discapacidad en el trastorno de ansiedad generalizada. Salud Mental. 2014;37(6):509-516.
  • El trastorno de ansiedad generalizada. Rev Fac Med UNAM. 2013;56(4):53-55.

How can we help you?

    The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the ABC Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.