title: Generalized anxiety disorder.
abstract: Anxiety is a part of daily life. While mild levels of anxiety can be positive, moderate to severe levels can cause intense distress. When anxiety interferes with a person's ability to function, it warrants treatment. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a chronic disabling condition characterized by at least 6 months of frequent worries and three of the following symptoms: fatigue, restlessness, poor concentration, irritability, muscle tension, and unsatisfying sleep. The primary treatment for anxiety is pharmacotherapy. Medication prescribed for anxiety has shifted from exclusive benzodiazepine therapy to a combination of benzodiazepine and antidepressant drugs. The principal disadvantages of benzodiazepines are their long-term use with associated physical dependence, tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms. Several reports support the serotonin reuptake inhibitors and the serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors for the treatment of anxiety disorders.
authors.affiliation: Mental Health and Behavioral Science and Pharmacy Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, Louisville, KY, USA. raymond.pary@med.va.gov
authors.forename: Ray
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pary
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Matuschka
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Caso
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lippmann
mesh_terms: D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors