Which question would be most appropriate to assess for signs of generalized anxiety disorder?

Which question would be most appropriate to assess for signs of generalized anxiety disorder?

• A. Are you more anxious at home or in a crowd?
• B. Have you ever had a 'flashback' or a nightmare about a traumatic event?
• C. Do you experience sudden, intense fear for no reason?
• D. Do you find yourself frequently distressing about a number of different things?

Answer: (D)

Generalized anxiety disorder shows up as excessive, difficult-to-control worry about many different aspects of life, most days for a substantial period (typically six months or more), often with accompanying symptoms like restlessness, fatigue, trouble concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep disturbance. The statement about distressing yourself about a number of different things directly taps into that pattern of pervasive, broad-based worry across multiple domains, which is what distinguishes GAD from worries focused on a single situation or from fear-based disorders. The other prompts align with different conditions: worrying only in specific settings or situations suggests situational or social anxiety; reporting flashbacks or nightmares points to trauma-related disorders; experiencing sudden, intense fear describes panic attacks rather than chronic, generalized worry.

Generalized anxiety disorder shows up as excessive, difficult-to-control worry about many different aspects of life, most days for a substantial period (typically six months or more), often with accompanying symptoms like restlessness, fatigue, trouble concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep disturbance. The statement about distressing yourself about a number of different things directly taps into that pattern of pervasive, broad-based worry across multiple domains, which is what distinguishes GAD from worries focused on a single situation or from fear-based disorders.

The other prompts align with different conditions: worrying only in specific settings or situations suggests situational or social anxiety; reporting flashbacks or nightmares points to trauma-related disorders; experiencing sudden, intense fear describes panic attacks rather than chronic, generalized worry.