Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2026

08:17
Reducing State Anxiety Using Working Memory Maintenance
Published on: July 19, 2017
[Generalized anxiety disorder: recognizing it and understanding its impact on the cognitive functioning].
Josée Blondeau1, Alexandre Bouvette
1UQTR Psychologue, CRESS de Drummondville, Québec.
Sante Mentale Au Quebec
|November 16, 2010
Summary
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) has evolved significantly since its 1980 DSM definition. This review covers its history, prevalence, diagnosis, and cognitive impacts, offering insights for clinicians.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Neuroscience
Context:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) diagnosis and understanding have evolved since its 1980 DSM introduction.
- The article reviews key literature on GAD, including its history, prevalence, and diagnostic challenges.
Purpose:
- To provide a comprehensive overview of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
- To examine the evolution of GAD classification and diagnosis.
- To report on recent findings regarding the cognitive profile of GAD patients.
Summary:
- This review synthesizes information on GAD's history, prevalence, comorbidity, and differential diagnosis.
- It explores recent research on the cognitive functioning of individuals with GAD from psychological and neuropsychological perspectives.
- Clinical implications and considerations for healthcare professionals are discussed.
Impact:
- Enhances understanding of GAD's multifaceted nature and diagnostic complexities.
- Highlights the impact of GAD on cognitive functions, informing targeted interventions.
- Provides clinicians with updated knowledge and practical considerations for managing GAD.
Related Concept Videos
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a chronic condition characterized by excessive and uncontrollable worry that persists for at least six months, significantly interfering with daily functioning. Unlike situational anxiety, which arises in response to specific stressors, GAD often occurs without a clear cause. Individuals may experience disproportionate worry about work, health, or relationships. For instance, a person might continuously fear poor health despite normal medical evaluations or...
Anxiety: Overview
Anxiety is a common mental disorder featuring excessive worry, fear, and apprehension, significantly affecting daily life. People with anxiety disorders experience persistent and intense anxiety, interrupting their everyday functioning.
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is characterized by an intense fear of social situations where one might face humiliation, rejection, embarrassment, or negative evaluation. This disorder leads individuals to avoid activities like casual conversations, public speaking, or seemingly simple tasks such as eating, signing documents, or swimming, in public settings. Its impact extends beyond discomfort, often significantly interfering with daily functioning and quality of life.
Beck's Cognitive Therapy
Cognitive therapy is a psychological approach designed to address distortions in thinking, which can lead to negative emotions and unrealistic beliefs. These cognitive distortions often influence how individuals interpret and respond to situations, exacerbating emotional distress. Below are some prevalent cognitive distortions, their characteristics, and examples of how they manifest in thought processes.
Arbitrary Inference
Arbitrary inference involves making conclusions without sufficient...
Arbitrary Inference
Arbitrary inference involves making conclusions without sufficient...
Panic Disorder
Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent and sudden minutes-long episodes of intense fear, known as panic attacks. These attacks may feel like heart attacks and often happen without warning or a specific cause. They can include symptoms such as rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, chest pain, trembling, sweating, dizziness, and a sense of helplessness. During a panic attack, individuals may feel as though they are experiencing a heart attack or are in a...
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by recurrent obsessions, compulsions, or both, which consume significant time and interfere with daily functioning. Obsessions involve persistent, intrusive, and unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that evoke anxiety. Common examples include irrational fears of contamination or harm. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce the anxiety caused by obsessions. For instance, individuals...
