Diagnosis and Psychological Assessment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Abstract

Of the anxiety disorders which may be identified in a clinical setting, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) has often been overlooked for several reasons : 1) its unremarkable place in the diagnostic hierarchy, 2) relationship to excessive anxiety and worry, and 3) comorbidity with other mental disorders which may take clinical precedence. However, clinicians should be attentive to the clinical signs leading to a diagnosis of GAD. This paper reviewed the availability of reliable assessment tools to help clinicians diagnose and assess GAD. First, diagnostic interview tools targeting GAD were introduced. Then, the tools for assessing worry (intensity/frequency/topic), factors associated with its maintenance (cognitive avoidance, intolerance of uncertainty), and tools for assessing generalized anxiety (severity/aspects), comorbid condition and differential diagnosis were reviewed. Lastly, cultural and developmental aspects related to GAD were addressed. The considerations included in this report were summarized in a flow chart and table that are practically useful in the diagnoses and assessment of GAD. Thus, this review provided guidelines for clinicians in the Korean psychiatric setting to enable appropriate diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of GAD. J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc 2012;51:16-24