A Review on Chittodvega w.s.r to Generalized Anxiety Disorder and its Management

Abstract

With the advent of modern science, human life has become much faster and more stressful. Psychiatric disorders are therefore expanding today, A wide range of psychiatric conditions have been described in Ayurveda. Ayurveda follows psychosomatic approach of health. Chittodvega is a Manasavikara mentioned by Charaka which is considered as a perfect word for highlighting the status of anxiety, Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Chittodvega can exists as a separate disease or can be an etiological factor for other psychic and psychosomatic diseases. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a mental health disorder that produces fear worry and a constant feeling of being overwhelmed. This on-going worry and tension may be accompanied by physical symptoms, such as restlessness, feeling on edge or easily fatigued, difficulty concentrating, muscle tension or problems sleeping. Being an alarming disease, it requires effective management. In recent years several synthetic drugs have been introduced for the treatment of anxiety disorders. Clinical trials have shown that anxiolytic drugs alone have limited long term efficacy and one cannot avoid major side effects such as drug dependence, drug resistance, sedation etc. Ayurveda follows psychosomatic approach of health. Acharya Charaka explains three types of therapies of physical and mental disorders Daivavyapasraya, Yuktivyapasrya, Satvajaya Chikitsa. So the present study deals with systemic review of Chittodvega from all the classics of Ayurveda and its management.