Editing Anxiety disorder (section)

=== Generalized anxiety disorder ===
{{Main|Generalized anxiety disorder}}
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a common disorder characterized by long-lasting anxiety that is not focused on any one object or situation. Those with generalized anxiety disorder experience non-specific persistent fear and worry and become overly concerned with everyday matters. Generalized anxiety disorder is "characterized by chronic excessive worry accompanied by three or more of the following symptoms: restlessness, fatigue, concentration problems, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep disturbance".<ref>{{cite book | vauthors = Schacter DL, Gilbert DT, Wegner DM |title=Psychology |date=2011 |publisher=Macmillan |isbn=978-1-4292-3719-2 }}{{page needed|date=July 2023}}</ref> Generalized anxiety disorder is the most common anxiety disorder to affect older adults.<ref name="Calleo">{{cite journal |id={{Gale|CA181302423}} | vauthors = Calleo J, Stanley M |title=Anxiety disorders in later life: differentiated diagnosis and treatment strategies |journal=Psychiatric Times |date=1 July 2008 |volume=25 |issue=8 |pages=24 }}</ref> Anxiety can be a symptom of a medical or [[substance use disorder]] problem, and medical professionals must be aware of this. A diagnosis of GAD is made when a person has been excessively worried about an everyday problem for six months or more.<ref name="Barker2003">{{cite book | vauthors = Barker P |title=Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing: The Craft of Caring |date=2003 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-0-340-81026-2 }}{{page needed|date=July 2023}}</ref> These stresses can include family life, work, social life, or their own health. A person may find that they have problems making daily decisions and remembering commitments as a result of a lack of concentration and/or preoccupation with worry.<ref>{{cite book | vauthors = Passer MW, Bremner A, Smith RE, Holt N, Vliek M, Sutherland E |title=Psychology: The Science of Mind and Behaviour |date=2009 |publisher=McGraw-Hill Higher Education |isbn=978-0-07-711836-5 |page=790 }}</ref> A symptom can be a strained appearance, with increased sweating from the hands, feet, and axillae,<ref>{{cite web | veditors = Bhandari S | date = 7 January 2023 | work = WebMD |url=http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/mental-health-anxiety-disorders |title=All About Anxiety Disorders: From Causes to Treatment and Prevention |access-date=2016-02-18 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160217225046/http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/mental-health-anxiety-disorders |archive-date=17 February 2016}}</ref> along with tearfulness, which can suggest depression.<ref name=Gelder2005>{{cite book | vauthors = Gelder MG, Mayou R, Geddes J |title=Psychiatry |date=2005 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-852863-0 |page=75 }}</ref> Before a diagnosis of anxiety disorder is made, physicians must rule out drug-induced anxiety and other medical causes.<ref>{{cite book | vauthors = Varcarolis EM |title=Manual of Psychiatric Nursing Care Planning |date=2010 |publisher=Elsevier Health Sciences |isbn=978-1-4377-1783-9 |page=109 }}</ref>

In children, GAD may be associated with headaches, restlessness, abdominal pain, and [[Palpitations|heart palpitations]].<ref name=PedGAD2009>{{cite journal | vauthors = Keeton CP, Kolos AC, Walkup JT | title = Pediatric generalized anxiety disorder: epidemiology, diagnosis, and management | journal = Paediatric Drugs | volume = 11 | issue = 3 | pages = 171–183 | year = 2009 | pmid = 19445546 | doi = 10.2165/00148581-200911030-00003 }}</ref> Typically, it begins around eight to nine years of age.<ref name=PedGAD2009/>