What is generalized anxiety disorder?

An anxiety disorder characterized by free-floating, persistent, and excessive worry for at least six months. Symptoms are variable but include complaints of persistent nervousness, trembling, muscular tensions, sweating, lightheadedness, palpitations, dizziness, and epigastric discomfort.

How do members experience generalized anxiety disorder?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with generalized anxiety disorder*

*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.

Top treatments taken by people for generalized anxiety disorder*

*Data from patients with generalized anxiety disorder, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Compare treatments taken by people with generalized anxiety disorder*

Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment

(Cymbalta)
Perceived effectiveness
for generalized anxiety disorder (11 evaluations)
Side effects
gastritis weight gain
Total evaluations
12
Tried for
generalized anxiety disorder (22)
Treatment

(Talk therapy)
Perceived effectiveness
for generalized anxiety disorder (5 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
6
Tried for
generalized anxiety disorder (18)
Treatment

(Effexor XR)
Perceived effectiveness
for generalized anxiety disorder (3 evaluations)
Side effects
lack of motivation
Total evaluations
4
Tried for
generalized anxiety disorder (12)
Treatment

(Lyrica)
Perceived effectiveness
for generalized anxiety disorder (1 evaluation)
Side effects
unrefreshing or poor sleep
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
generalized anxiety disorder (3)

*Data from patients with generalized anxiety disorder, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Who has generalized anxiety disorder on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 345
20s 2,396
30s 7,443
40s 11,699
50s 11,977
60s 8,052
70+ 3,167

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 11,014
Female 33,871

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What is generalized anxiety disorder?

An anxiety disorder characterized by free-floating, persistent, and excessive worry for at least six months. Symptoms are variable but include complaints of persistent nervousness, trembling, muscular tensions, sweating, lightheadedness, palpitations, dizziness, and epigastric discomfort.



Common symptoms reported by people with generalized anxiety disorder

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it

Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.
Last updated:



Treatments taken by people for generalized anxiety disorder

Treatment name(s)
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Cymbalta)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
4,266
Treatment name(s)

(Talk therapy)
Type
Psychotherapy
How many have tried
10,994
Treatment name(s)

(Effexor XR)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
6,741
Treatment name(s)

(Lyrica)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
2,074

Data from patients with generalized anxiety disorder, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Last updated:


Compare treatments taken by people with generalized anxiety disorder

Treatment name(s)
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Cymbalta)
Perceived effectiveness
for generalized anxiety disorder (11 evaluations)
Side effects
gastritis weight gain
Total evaluations
12
Treatment name(s)

(Talk therapy)
Perceived effectiveness
for generalized anxiety disorder (5 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
6
Treatment name(s)

(Effexor XR)
Perceived effectiveness
for generalized anxiety disorder (3 evaluations)
Side effects
lack of motivation
Total evaluations
4
Treatment name(s)

(Lyrica)
Perceived effectiveness
for generalized anxiety disorder (1 evaluation)
Side effects
unrefreshing or poor sleep
Total evaluations
1
  • Major
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • None
  • Can't tell
  • Severe
  • Moderate
  • Mild
  • None

Data from patients with generalized anxiety disorder, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Last updated:



Who has generalized anxiety disorder on PatientsLikeMe?

  • 106 new patients joined this month
  • 7,617 say GAD is their primary condition

Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 345
20s 2,396
30s 7,443
40s 11,699
50s 11,977
60s 8,052
70+ 3,167
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 5,914
20-29 years 2,953
30-39 years 2,160
40-49 years 1,344
50-59 years 533
60-69 years 92
70+ years 20

Distribution of sex

Sex
Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 11,014
Female 33,871

Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 18,341
Not Diagnosed 2,943

These charts show data from GAD patients who have completed their condition history
Last updated: