Mental Health Anxiety Disorders How Generalized Anxiety Disorder Is Diagnosed By Heather Jones Heather Jones Facebook Twitter Heather M. Jones is a freelance writer with a focus on health, parenting, disability, and feminism. Learn about our editorial process Published on June 01, 2021 Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD Steven Gans, MD, is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Professional Screenings Labs and Tests Self/At-Home Testing Emerging Research Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a condition that affects approximately 3.1% of Americans. It is characterized by excessive worry about a variety of subjects, rather than one specific area of concern. GAD is primarily diagnosed through a discussion of symptoms but can involve physical exams and diagnostic tools. Learn more about how GAD is diagnosed. demaerre / Getty Images Professional Screenings The first point of contact for GAD is usually a primary healthcare provider. This often involves doing an examination, which can include: Getting a medical history, including mental health and substance use Getting a family medical history, including mental health and substance use Measuring height and weight (to check for significant changes which could indicate a health concern) Checking vital signs such as heart rate and blood pressure A review of current medications, including over-the-counter medications and herbal supplements A discussion about your overall lifestyle and environment A physical examination, including listening to the heart and lungs, feeling organs, looking in ears and throat, etc. A discussion about your symptoms (what are they, how intense they are, how long do they last, etc.) A discussion about how the symptoms interfere with your daily life An observation of your attitude and behavior Time to ask and answer questions The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–5) Healthcare professionals refer to the criteria set out in The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–5) published by the American Psychiatric Association when making a diagnosis of GAD. According to the DSM-5, the following criteria must be met for a diagnosis of GAD: A. Excessive anxiety and worry (apprehensive expectation), occurring more days than not for at least 6 months, about a number of events or activities (such as work or school performance). B. The individual finds it difficult to control the worry. C. The anxiety and worry are associated with three (or more) of the following six symptoms (with at least some symptoms having been present for more days than not for the past 6 months): Note: Only one item is required for children. Restlessness, feeling keyed up or on edgeBeing easily fatiguedDifficulty concentrating or mind going blankIrritabilityMuscle tensionSleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless, unsatisfying sleep) D. The anxiety, worry, or physical symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. E. The disturbance is not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or another medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism). F. The disturbance is not better explained by another mental disorder (e.g., anxiety or worry about having panic attacks in panic disorder, negative evaluation in social anxiety disorder [social phobia], contamination or other obsessions in obsessive-compulsive disorder, separation from attachment figures in separation anxiety disorder, reminders of traumatic events in post-traumatic stress disorder, gaining weight in anorexia nervosa, physical complaints in somatic symptom disorder, perceived appearance flaws in body dysmorphic disorder, having a serious illness in illness anxiety disorder, or the content of delusional beliefs in schizophrenia or delusional disorder). In more basic terms, this means: The person experiences excessive worry about a variety of things rather than being focused on a specific concernThis worry occurs most days and happens for at least six monthsThis worry is intrusive and affects their daily lifeThe person exhibits other symptoms in addition to worries such as restlessness or sleep problemsThis excessive worry can't be better explained by something else such as substance use, or another medical or mental health condition Labs and Tests While there is no lab test that can be used to diagnose GAD, tests (such as blood and urine tests) are sometimes performed to rule out other conditions that can cause similar symptoms to GAD, including: Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) Chronic pain conditions Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) Cushing's syndrome (excess of cortisol in the blood caused by a pituitary tumor) Mitral valve prolapse (one or both valve flaps of the mitral valve bulge upward into the left atrium) Carcinoid syndrome (carcinoid tumor secretes certain chemicals into the bloodstream) Hypocalcemia (low blood calcium) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Heart failure Tourette's syndrome Pheochromocytoma (rare tumor of adrenal gland tissue) Other diagnostic tools such as an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) may be performed if another medical condition is suspected or needs to be ruled out, but would not be used specifically to diagnose GAD. GAD Can Be Hard To Recognize Because it is sometimes difficult to tell the difference between normal anxiety and GAD, and because GAD often occurs alongside other psychiatric disorders, it can be difficult to diagnose GAD.If you are experiencing symptoms of GAD, whether or not your symptoms match other conditions, speak to your healthcare provider—even if you think you might just be experiencing normal worrying. Self/At-Home Testing GAD is best diagnosed by a healthcare provider, but some of the questionnaires used by professionals to screen for GAD can be taken at home as a starting point. Screening Test From the Anxiety and Depression Association of America Please answer the following: Do you experience excessive worry?Is your worry excessive in intensity, frequency, or amount of distress it causes?Do you find it difficult to control the worry (or stop worrying) once it starts?Do you worry excessively or uncontrollably about minor things such as being late for an appointment, minor repairs, homework, etc.? If you answered "Yes" for more than one of the questions, print and complete the full screening tool and share it with your primary healthcare provider or mental health professional. During the past six months, have you often been bothered by any of the following symptoms? Check one square next to each symptom that you have had more days than not. Not at all A little Moderately Quite a bit Restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge Irritability Difficulty falling/staying asleep or restless/unsatisfying sleep Being easily fatigued Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank Muscle tension None Mild Moderate Severe Very Severe How much do worry and physical symptoms interfere with your life, work, social activities, family, etc.? How much are you bothered by worry and physical symptoms (how much distress does it cause you)? Emerging Research Routine Screenings According to a 2012 study, American women are twice as likely as American men to experience an anxiety disorder during their lifetime. With these things in mind, the Women's Preventive Services Initiative (WPSI) brought forth a recommendation of screening girls aged 13 and older and women for anxiety, whether or not they have a current diagnosis of an anxiety disorder. They reached this recommendation through evaluating the results of: A systematic review of the effectiveness of screeningThe accuracy of screening instrumentsBenefits and harms of treatments in adolescent girls and adult women Further studies into optimal screening intervals are needed. For now, the WPSI recommends clinical judgment should be used to determine the frequency. If the results of a routine screening suggest the presence of an anxiety disorder, the WPSI indicates further evaluation and follow-up to determine a diagnosis and establish a treatment plan. Neuroimaging Some studies are examining the use of neuroimaging (images of the structure or activity of the brain or other parts of the nervous system) with anxiety disorders. A 2019 systemic review encourages further studies into how neuroimaging may help with the diagnosis, treatment, and understanding of GAD. Summary Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)—characterized by excessive worry about a variety of subjects—is primarily diagnosed through a discussion of symptoms but can involve physical exams and diagnostic tools. If you suspect you have GAD, speak with a healthcare professional. A Word From Verywell While GAD can be difficult to recognize, a thorough discussion with your primary healthcare provider is a great start on the road to diagnosis and treatment. Through screenings, examinations, and sometimes diagnostic testing, GAD can be identified, and effective treatment plans can be established. 10 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Generalized anxiety disorder. Cleveland Clinic. Anxiety disorders. American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Anxiety disorders. In Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Winchester Hospital. Diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Gliatto MF. Generalized anxiety disorder. AFP. 2000;62(7):1591-1600. Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Screening for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Kessler RC, Petukhova M, Sampson NA, Zaslavsky AM, Wittchen H-U. Twelve-month and lifetime prevalence and lifetime morbid risk of anxiety and mood disorders in the United States. Int J Methods Psychiatr Res. 2012;21(3):169-184. doi:10.1002/mpr.1359 Gregory KD, Chelmow D, Nelson HD, et al. Screening for anxiety in adolescent and adult women: a recommendation from the women’s preventive services initiative. Ann Intern Med. 2020;173(1):48-56. doi:10.7326/M20-0580 Holzschneider K, Mulert C. Neuroimaging in anxiety disorders. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2011;13(4):453-461. doi:10.31887/dcns.2011.13.4/kholzschneider Madonna D, Delvecchio G, Soares JC, Brambilla P. Structural and functional neuroimaging studies in generalized anxiety disorder: a systematic review. Braz J Psychiatry. 2019;41(4):336-362. By Heather Jones Heather M. Jones is a freelance writer with a strong focus on health, parenting, disability, and feminism. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies