Generalized Anxiety Disorder

International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 criteria

  1. A period of at least six months with prominent tension, worry, and feelings of apprehension about everyday events and problems.
  2. At least four symptoms out of the following list of items must be present, of which at least one symptom of autonomic arousal. 

Autonomic arousal symptoms

  1. Palpitations or pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate.
  2. Sweating.
  3. Trembling or shaking.
  4. Dry mouth (not because of medication or dehydration).

Symptoms concerning chest and abdomen

  1. Difficulty breathing.
  2. Feeling of choking.
  3. Chest pain or discomfort.
  4. Nausea or abdominal distress (e.g. churning in the stomach).

Symptoms concerning brain and mind

  1. Feeling dizzy, unsteady, faint, or light-headed.
  2. Feelings that objects are unreal (derealization), or that one's self is distant or "not really here" (depersonalization).
  3. Fear of losing control, going crazy, or passing out.
  4. Fear of dying.

General symptoms

  1. Hot flashes or cold chills.
  2. Numbness or tingling sensations.

Symptoms of tension

  1. Muscle tension or aches and pains.
  2. Restlessness and inability to relax.
  3. Feeling keyed up, or on edge, or of mental tension.
  4. A sensation of a lump in the throat or difficulty with swallowing.

Other non-specific symptoms

  1. Exaggerated response to minor surprises or being startled.
  2. Difficulty in concentrating or mind going blank, because of worrying or anxiety.
  3. Persistent irritability.
  4. Difficulty getting to sleep because of worrying.



The disorder does not meet the criteria for panic disorder, phobic anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or hypochondriacal disorder. 

Most important exclusion criteria: not explained by a physical disorder, such as hyperthyroidism, an organic mental disorder (F0), or psychoactive substance-related disorder, such as excess consumption of amphetamine-like substances, or withdrawal from benzodiazepines.

NOTE

For children, different ICD-10 criteria may be applied for diagnosing GAD (see F93.80).

F93.80 Other childhood emotional disorders

Identity disorder
>> Overanxious disorder