Anxiety disorder is the most common mental disorder in American, affecting as many as 40 million people. Conditions that are characterized by severe anxiety, sudden mood swings or emotional instability are generally grouped under the term “anxiety disorders”. Anxiety disorders include specific phobias, which are particularized fears of an object or situation, exposure to which causes extreme anxiety and also possibly panic attacks. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a more unfocused, pervasive anxiety, causing fatigue, insomnia, and other health problems.

Generalized anxiety disorder is defined by a protracted, greater than 6 months’ duration, period and worry, accompanied by multiple associated symptoms. These symptoms include muscle tension, easy fatiguability, poor concentration, insomnia, and irritability. In youth, this condition is known as overanxious disorder of childhood. An important feature of generalized anxiety disorder is that the anxiety and worry cannot be attributable to the more focal distress of panic disorder, social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or other conditions. Rather, as implied by the name, the excessive worries often pertain to many areas, including work, relationships, finances, the well-being of one’s family, potential misfortunes, and impending deadlines. Somatic anxiety symptoms are common, as are sporadic panic attacks.

Generalized anxiety disorder happens more often in women, with a sex ratio of about 2 women to 1 man. Approximately 50% of cases begin in childhood or adolescence. The disorder typically runs a fluctuating course, with periods of increased symptoms usually associated with life stress or impending difficulties. There does not appear to be a specific familial association for general anxiety disorders. Rather, rates of other mood and anxiety disorders typically are greater among first-degree relatives of people with generalized anxiety disorder.

There are many other types of anxiety disorders such as agoraphobia, specific phobia, social phobia, obsessive compulsive disorder, acute stress disorder, and post traumatic stress disorder.