A Description of Patients Diagnosed with DSM-III-R Generalized Anxiety Disorder

In the revision to DSM-III, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is no longer considered only a residual category but can be diagnosed even when other axis I disorders are present. In this report, we present basic descriptive data on 22 patients meeting DSM-III-R criteria for GAD. Specific spheres of worry most commonly reported by patients with GAD are presented as well as data suggesting that these spheres of worry can be identified and judged as excessive or unrealistic in a reliable fashion. Nearly all GAD patients receive an additional diagnosis (comorbidity). Patterns of comorbidity indicate a high frequency of social phobia as an additional diagnosis in this sample. The present study suggests that, consistent with the new definition of GAD, a group of patients exist who worry excessively about two or more life circumstances and have the accompanying physiological symptoms with sufficient severity to satisfy the diagnostic criteria. Preliminary evidence suggests that this pattern of chronic intense worry about life circumstances discriminates GAD from other anxiety disorders.