Unmeet Anxiety Needs 

Generalized Anxiety Disorder
      Almost 90% of people suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) experience another psychiatric disorder, with many patients suffering from three or more disorders. Depression is high on the list: someone with GAD is 62 times more likely to become depressed than is someone without the disorder. Indeed, the high co-morbidity of GAD with depression in clinical samples has led some to suggest that GAD is a severity marker of depression rather than an independent disorder.

      Epidemiological evidence suggest that it is GAD that is the primary disorder, according to Ronald C. Ressier, Ph.D., of the Heath Care Policy Department at Harvard Medical School. First, the overall rate of comorbidity in people with GAD in the general population is not greater than that for most other anxiety and mood disorders, suggesting that GAD is independent of depression. Instead, being depressed might lead someone with undiagnosed GAD to get help rather than the other way around.

      Second, pure GAD progresses in exactly the same way as co-morbid GAD. Neither Panic Disorder nor major depression is a risk factor for GAD in adulthood, according to Kessler. The odd exception is simple phobia, usually an animal phobia doubles the risk that someone will develop GAD in later life. Third, depression does not appear to "cause" GAD: other mood and anxiety disorders (particularly panic) very often begin at about the same time as GAD. Fourth, having a parent with GAD is a more powerful predictor or GAD than is having a parent with depression.

      Diagnosing GAD remains problematic because GAD patients themselves seems to deny the underlying symptom of GAD--worry. "People with GAD who come into treatment are not "typical," says Kessler. "They recognize that they worry a lot, and they are worried that other don't worry enough. However, what they complain about is their depression or panic and not the worry." Notably, impairment is almost twice as high in those with both GAD and depression than in those with GAD or depression alone. "As a result, failure to treat the package of conditions has dire consequences on the severity of the disorders," warns Kessler.

GAD Defined
      It is not always easy to diagnose Generalized Anxiety Disorder because the sufferer does not have panic attacks. People with GAD experience a persistent excessive or unrealistic worry lasting at least six months. Unrealistic worry is defined as excessive concern over things that are unlikely to occur. GAD disrupts concentration and makes it difficult for the sufferer to perform task and process information.

Finding Books on Anxiety is Easy
      Looking for a book on Panic Disorder, Social Phobia or PTSD? The ADAA has the best offerings of books, tapes and materials on anxiety disorder - all reviewed by the ADAA Publications Committee. Purchasing online could not be easier, just visit the ADAA website at http://www.adaa.org, click on the ADAA Bookstore button and then click on the Barnes and Noble.com Orders button. The ADAA Bookstores will continue to offer book and materials that cannot be purchased through Barnes and Noble.com, including educational videos, self-help tapes, ADAA conference programs and abstract books, and ADAA pamphlets, these materials can also be ordered by clicking on the ADAA Bookstore button. Since the ADAA receives a commission for each book order filled by Barnes and Noble.com you not only get an excellent book at a reasonable price, but you support the ADAA.