DSM 5 diagnostic criteria for generalized anxiety disorder

What are the DSM 5 diagnostic criteria for generalized anxiety disorder?

• A. Excessive anxiety and worry (apprehensive expectation), occurring more days than not for at least 6 months, about a number of events or activities (such as work or school performance).
• B. The individual finds it difficult to control the worry.
• C. The anxiety and worry are associated with three (or more) of the following six symptoms (with at least some symptoms having been present for more days than not for the past 6 months):
  • 1. Restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge
  • 2. Being easily fatigued
  • 3. Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank
  • 4. Irritability
  • 5. Muscle tension
  • 6. Sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless, unsatisfying sleep)
• D. The anxiety, worry, or physical symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
• E. The disturbance is not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or another medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism).
• F. The disturbance is not better explained by another mental disorder.

DSM 4 to DSM 5 Generalized Anxiety Disorder Comparison

DSM 4	DSM 5
Disorder Class: Anxiety Disorders	SAME
A. Excessive anxiety and worry (apprehensive expectation), occurring more days than not for at least 6 months, about a number of events or activities (such as work or school performance).	SAME
B. The person finds it difficult to control the worry.	SAME
C. The anxiety and worry are associated with three or more of the following six symptoms (with at least some symptoms present for more days than not for the past 6 months). Restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge Being easily fatigued Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank Irritability Muscle tension Sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless unsatisfying sleep)	SAME
D. The focus of the anxiety and worry is not confined to features of an Axis I disorder (e.g., the anxiety or worry is not about having a panic attack [as in panic disorder], being embarrassed in public [as in social phobia], being contaminated [as in obsessive-compulsive disorder] being away from home or close relatives [as in separation anxiety disorder], gaining weight [as in anorexia Nervosa], or having a serious illness [as in hypochondriasis]), and the anxiety and worry do not occur exclusively during posttraumatic stress disorder.	F. The disturbance is not better explained by another mental disorder (e.g., anxiety or worry about having panic attacks in panic disorder, negative evaluation in social anxiety disorder [social phobia], contamination or other obsessions in obsessive-compulsive disorder, separation from attachment figures in separation anxiety disorder, reminders of traumatic events in posttraumatic stress disorder, gaining weight in anorexia nervosa, physical complaints in somatic symptom disorder, perceived appearance flaws in body dysmorphic disorder, having a serious illness in illness anxiety disorder, or the content of delusional beliefs in schizophrenia or delusional disorder).
E. The anxiety, worry, or physical symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.	SAME (part D)
F. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism) and does not occur exclusively during a mood disorder, a psychotic disorder, or a pervasive developmental disorder.	E. The disturbance is not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or another medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism).

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by excessive and persistent anxiety and uncontrollable worry that occurs for at least 6 months. 

GAD is associated with significant and pervasive impairment in broad areas of functioning, such as lost productivity at work, interpersonal problems, and increased utilization of medical services.

Moreover, the course of GAD appears to be chronic and relatively unremitting, with the majority of patients reporting an early age of onset.

Generalized anxiety disorder is one of the most common mental disorders.

Up to 20% of adults are affected by anxiety disorders each year.

Sources

Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 Changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health