Related Experiment Videos
Generalized anxiety disorder publications: so where do we stand?
1Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Journal of Anxiety Disorders
|April 19, 2000
Summary
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) research has lagged behind other anxiety disorders. While GAD publications increased in the 1980s, research on its underlying processes remains limited, hindering treatment advancements.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Bibliometrics
Background:
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is often considered understudied, despite claims of increasing research interest.
- Empirical data are lacking to validate the perceived rise in GAD research.
- Anxiety disorder research trends require quantitative analysis to confirm shifts in focus.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively assess publication trends for GAD from 1980 to 1997.
- To compare GAD research volume relative to other anxiety disorders.
- To categorize GAD publications by research focus (descriptive, process, treatment, review).
Main Methods:
- Bibliometric analysis of PsycLIT and MEDLINE databases (1980-1997).
- Calculation of the annual percentage of anxiety disorder publications dedicated to GAD.
- Classification of GAD publications into descriptive, process, treatment, and review categories.
Main Results:
- GAD is significantly less researched than panic disorder/agoraphobia, PTSD, and OCD.
- The proportion of anxiety disorder publications on GAD rose in the 1980s but stabilized in the 1990s.
- Descriptive and treatment-focused studies constitute the majority of GAD research.
Conclusions:
- GAD research remains limited compared to other major anxiety disorders.
- The lack of research into GAD's underlying processes is a significant gap.
- Further investigation into GAD processes is crucial for advancing understanding and treatment.