Generalized anxiety disorder

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What is generalized anxiety disorder?

An anxiety disorder characterized by free-floating, persistent, and excessive worry for at least six months. Symptoms are variable but include complaints of persistent nervousness, trembling, muscular tensions, sweating, lightheadedness, palpitations, dizziness, and epigastric discomfort.



Common symptoms reported by people with generalized anxiety disorder

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it

Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.
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Treatments taken by people for generalized anxiety disorder

Treatment name(s)
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Talk therapy)
Type
Psychotherapy
How many have tried
11,013
Treatment name(s)

(Effexor XR)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
6,746
Treatment name(s)

(Cymbalta)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
4,262
Treatment name(s)

(Lyrica)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
2,072

Data from patients with generalized anxiety disorder, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
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Compare treatments taken by people with generalized anxiety disorder

Treatment name(s)
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Talk therapy)
Perceived effectiveness
for generalized anxiety disorder (12 evaluations)
Side effects
emotional lability post-traumatic stress disorder
Total evaluations
17
Treatment name(s)

(Effexor XR)
Perceived effectiveness
for generalized anxiety disorder (15 evaluations)
Side effects
increased anxiety dizziness 33 more
Total evaluations
17
Treatment name(s)

(Cymbalta)
Perceived effectiveness
for generalized anxiety disorder (20 evaluations)
Side effects
decreased sex drive (libido) weight gain 10 more
Total evaluations
21
Treatment name(s)

(Lyrica)
Perceived effectiveness
for generalized anxiety disorder (4 evaluations)
Side effects
unrefreshing or poor sleep
Total evaluations
4
  • Major
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • None
  • Can't tell
  • Severe
  • Moderate
  • Mild
  • None

Data from patients with generalized anxiety disorder, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
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Who has generalized anxiety disorder on PatientsLikeMe?

  • 112 new patients joined this month
  • 6,780 say GAD is their primary condition

Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 114
20s 2,448
30s 8,002
40s 11,398
50s 11,170
60s 6,782
70+ 2,227
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 5,872
20-29 years 2,934
30-39 years 2,150
40-49 years 1,341
50-59 years 531
60-69 years 90
70+ years 21

Distribution of sex

Sex
Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 10,541
Female 31,757

Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 18,229
Not Diagnosed 2,943

These charts show data from GAD patients who have completed their condition history
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