Oscar Pistorius has brought Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) into the spotlight. Here are some of the basic facts about this disorder.
The DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) defines GAD as “excessive anxiety and worry about several events or activities for most days during the last six months”.
This worry is uncontrollable and causes changes and difficulties in various parts of a person’s life, including their relationships, work, sleeping and eating and other important areas. People experiencing GAD will show symptoms of being unusually restless, easily fatigued, irritable for no apparent reason, muscle tension and find it difficult to concentrate.
These factors distinguish GAD from normal or healthy levels of worry or stress, which all of us experience from time to time. This is a relatively common disorder, and people experiencing these symptoms are often surprised to hear they are not alone.
It is understood that this disorder is more than likely caused by a combination of biological and psychosocial factors, and psychiatric and psychological interventions are therefore both recommended.
