Which symptom best characterizes generalized anxiety disorder?

Which symptom best characterizes generalized anxiety disorder?

• A. Persistent worry about multiple domains across months.
• B. Occasional fear related to a specific event.
• C. Hallucinations during sleep.
• D. Compulsive behaviors performed to reduce anxiety.

Answer: (A)

Generalized anxiety disorder shows up as chronic, excessive worry about many topics that lasts most days and is hard to control. That best matches persistent worry about multiple domains across months. The other options point to different patterns—fear tied to a single event suggests a specific phobia; hallucinations during sleep aren’t typical of GAD; compulsive behaviors to reduce anxiety are more characteristic of OCD.

Generalized anxiety disorder shows up as chronic, excessive worry about many topics that lasts most days and is hard to control. That best matches persistent worry about multiple domains across months. The other options point to different patterns—fear tied to a single event suggests a specific phobia; hallucinations during sleep aren’t typical of GAD; compulsive behaviors to reduce anxiety are more characteristic of OCD.