Somatic Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder from the DSM-IV

Difficulty concentrating in generalized anxiety disorder: An evaluation of incremental utility and relationship to worry

“…Importantly, the relationships of difficulty concentrating with worry, GAD, and global anxiety severity generally remained significant after controlling for the two most common comorbidities (i.e., depression and social anxiety disorder), which is consistent with a specific relationship between difficulty concentrating and GAD-related phenomena. This is contrary to previous findings that difficulty concentrating did not relate to other GAD phenomena after depression symptoms were statistically controlled (Joormann & Stöber, 1999). These conflicting findings may be due to methodological differences between studies: Joormann and Stöber used an undergraduate student sample and self-report measures, whereas the present study used a diagnosed sample and clinician-administered measures.…”

“…In a sample of treatment-seeking adults with GAD, difficulty concentrating as assessed by the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for DSM-IV-Lifetime version (ADIS-IV-L; Di Nardo, Brown, & Barlow, 1994) showed a small but significant association with GAD clinical severity (Gordon & Heimberg, 2011). In contrast to these findings, in a large undergraduate sample, self-reported difficulty concentrating as assessed by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GADQ; Roemer, Borkovec, Posa, & Borkovec, 1995) was uniquely associated with depression symptoms and did not correlate with other GAD symptoms after depression was statistically controlled (Joormann & Stöber, 1999). Taken together, the sparse and inconsistent current literature does not clearly establish whether difficulty concentrating is a valid and useful part of the GAD diagnosis.…”

Social isolation from extended family members and friends among African Americans: Findings from a national survey

“…First, the individual may have mental or emotional difficulties that make it difficult for support members to interact with them. For example, some individuals with anxiety disorders report irritability related to their anxiety (Joorman & Stöber, 1999) and individuals with clinical depression withdraw and isolate themselves from their support networks. In both of these circumstances, the mental challenges and related interpersonal difficulties may precede (and potentially cause) social isolation from family and friends rather than the reverse.…”

Diagnostik der Generalisierten Angststörungen

“…Anspannung: Der ständige Fokus auf potenzielle Gefahren führt zu einer Daueranspannung, Hyperarousal, zu Schlafstörungen und unspezifischen psychosomatischen Symptomen. Vor allem die erhöhte Muskelanspannung ist in Vergleichsstudien gut belegt 30 31 . Zudem wird eine vegetative Überreagibilität und eine damit einhergehende eingeschränkte Variabilität der Reaktionen des autonomen Nervensystems von GAD-Patienten unter Stressbedingungen diskutiert 30 32 .…”