Volume 16, Issue 1


A REVIEW OF BASIC AND APPLIED RESEARCH ON GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER


Abstract
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) has been described as the ""basic"" anxiety disorder. This conceptualization stems from its early onset, chronic course, and resistance to change. This view is also based on studies showing that GAD onset may temporally precede the onset of other disorders. It has also led to some speculation that GAD is a disorder from which other emotional disorders may emerge (Brown, Barlow, & Liebowitz, 1994). This review will first provide a description of GAD and its primary diagnostic criteria as well as data on the epidemiology of GAD. Next we will review the theories of etiology for the disorder. Following this, we will discuss the psychophysiological, cognitive, information processing, personality, and emotional processing features found in persons with GAD. Finally, we will conclude with a discussion of the treatment outcome studies and studies identifying predictors of treatment outcome that have been conducted on GAD individuals.

Keywords
generalized anxiety disorder, comorbidity, information processing

Download PDF
Scroll to Top