Criteria Guide
Generalized Anxiety Disorder DSM Criteria Guide
Use this page when the goal is to focus quickly on the DSM-style structure for Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
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Criterion A
- Excessive anxiety and worry occur more days than not for at least 6 months about a number of events or activities.
Criterion B
- The individual finds it difficult to control the worry.
Criterion C
- The anxiety and worry are associated with at least 3 of the following for more days than not: restlessness or feeling keyed up, easy fatigability, difficulty concentrating or mind going blank, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep disturbance.
- In children, only 1 associated symptom is required.
Criterion D
- The anxiety, worry, or physical symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment.
Criterion E
- The disturbance is not attributable to a substance or another medical condition.
Criterion F
- The disturbance is not better explained by another mental disorder such as panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, OCD, separation anxiety disorder, anorexia nervosa, or PTSD.