Characteristics and predictors of full and partial recovery from generalized anxiety disorder in primary care patients.
The current study examined the naturalistic course of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in a sample of 113 primary care patients across a 2-year period. Initial diagnoses were established using structured clinical interviews according to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria. Results indicated that the majority of patients meeting DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for GAD were still symptomatic to some degree after 2 years of follow-up. Rates of full and partial recovery from GAD, however, were found to be higher than those reported for previous studies of GAD in psychiatric patients. Diagnostic comorbidity, severity of psychosocial impairment, and gender were found to be significantly associated with achieving full or partial recovery from GAD. Psychiatric treatment was not found to be associated with time to full or partial recovery from GAD symptoms, likely due to a treatment-biasing effect. These results underscore that GAD is a chronic and persistent illness in primary care patients.
Department of Psychology, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Carbondale, IL 62901-6502, USA.
Benjamin F
BF
Rodriguez
Risa B
RB
Weisberg
Maria E
ME
Pagano
Steven E
SE
Bruce
Michael A
MA
Spencer
Larry
L
Culpepper
Martin B
MB
Keller
D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011379:Prognosis; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs