Generalized anxiety disorder

The literature in regard to diagnosis, course, aetiology, and treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder is considered. It is concluded that the revised diagnostic criteria of DSM-III-R represents a valid category, with features which can be distinguished from other neurotic disorders. The revised diagnosis also represents a more severe disorder which typically runs a chronic course, necessitating serious attention to diagnosis and management, particularly at the level of primary care. While drug treatments (benzodiazepine and buspirone) have good short-term anxiolytic efficacy, they are not considered to be the treatment of choice, primarily due to their dependence and relapse potential. Instead therapies which teach skills to manage and master cognitive and somatic components of anxiety are recommended. The aetiology of the disorder, in regard to specific genetic, biological, or developmental factors, is unknown