GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER

• Anxiety can be conceptualized as a normal and adaptive response to a threat that prepares the organism for flight or fight
• It is normal to feel anxious from time to time. Ongoing anxiety and worry that are difficult to control and interfere with day to day activities may be a sign of GAD
• GAD is a mental disorder characterized by a feeling of worry, anxiety or fear that are strong enough to interfere with daily activities and can occur without any trigger. Worry is a pervasive human experience, often unrealistic and the individual may feel more than what it seems.
• The ratio of women to men is about 2: 1 and lifetime prevalence is 5- 10 per cent. Among anxiety disorder about 25% of the patients have GAD and it is the most common anxiety disorder among the elderly population

• The difference in brain chemistry and function
• Genetics – May run in families
• The difference in the way threats are perceived
• Development and personality

• Worry and apprehension – which are difficult to control and more prolonged than the ordinary worries and concerns of healthy people.
• Psychological arousal – which may be evident as irritability, poor concentration, poor memory, and sensitivity to voices
• Muscle tension – that may be experienced as restlessness, trembling, inability to relax, and frontal or occipital headache
• Autonomic hyperactivity – that may be experienced as sweating, palpitation, dry mouth, epigastric discomfort and dizziness.
• Hyperventilation – This may lead to dizziness, tingling in the extremities and feeling of shortness of breath.
• Sleep disturbances – problem-related to begin or to maintain good sleep
• Inability to relax or enjoy, feeling like lumping in the throat etc.

Differential diagnosis

Panic disorder:

• Panic attacks may also occur in GAD. Panic symptoms in GAD are generally precipitated by the uncontrolled escalation of anxiety/ worry rather than occurring spontaneously or acutely in specific situations as in panic disorder.

Depressive disorders

• Individuals with GAD tend to be more concerned with the future; individuals with depressive disorders are more past-oriented.

Mood Disorders

• Mood swings and suicidal ideation are uncommon in GAD.

Social anxiety disorder

• Patients with GAD are usually comfortable in social situations and not particularly disturbed by the evaluation by others

• Clinical diagnosis is as per the ICD11 or DSM 5 criteria
• Symptoms should last for a minimum duration of six months
• Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) is used to rate the severity

• Psychotherapy
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Applied relaxation therapy

Internal Medicines:

• Drakshadi kashaya –mild to moderate severity
• Kalyanakam kashaya / Guduchyadi Kashaya
• Aswagandha choorna + Sankhupushpi + Yashti choorna in Vata Pitta anubhanda
• Aswagandha choorna + Sankhupushpi + vacha choorna in Vata Kapha anubandha
• Manasamitra vataka – for irritation and agitation
• Samana snehapana - Kalyanaka ghrita, Mahakalyanaka ghrita, Mahapaisachika ghrita, Mahatiktaka ghrita, Dhatryadi ghrita
• Somalatha churna – for sleep disturbances

Procedures

• Snehapana followed by virechana - In moderate to severe conditions
• Nasya with ksheerabala 101 or kalyanaka ghrita
• Siropichu with ksheerabala/ Chandanadi taila
• Sirolepa in sleep disturbances, irritation and agitation
• Takradhara and taila dhara - vatapittanubandha & in mild to moderate severity