TREATMENT OF GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER: THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES AND CLINICAL CHALLENGES

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Anxiety disorders represent a group of prevalent psychiatric conditions, with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) being one of the most common among adults. It is estimated that GAD affects approximately 3% to 6% of the global adult population, with a significant prevalence rate also observed in children and adolescents (DeGeorge, Grover, & Streeter, 2022). This chronic disorder is characterized by generalized, diffuse, and excessive anxiety that impairs various domains of the patient's life, such as social, familial, and professional and is often associated with somatic symptoms (Strawn et al., 2018). The clinical relevance of GAD is further highlighted by the fact that individuals with this disorder are more prone to developing comorbidities, such as depressive disorders and other anxiety disorders, as well as having an elevated lifetime risk of suicide (Strawn et al., 2018).