The case for eliminating excessive worry as a requirement for generalized anxiety disorder: a cross-national investigation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Around the world, people living in objectively difficult circumstances who experience symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) do not qualify for a diagnosis because their worry is not 'excessive' relative to the context. We carried out the first large-scale, cross-national study to explore the implications of removing this excessiveness requirement.

Methods

Data come from the World Health Organization World Mental Health Survey Initiative. A total of 133 614 adults from 12 surveys in Low- or Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) and 16 surveys in High-Income Countries (HICs) were assessed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Non-excessive worriers meeting all other DSM-5 criteria for GAD were compared to respondents meeting all criteria f

SUBMITTER: Ruscio AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11496212 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature