Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 3, 2026

E-Patient Counseling Trial E-PACO: Computer Based Education versus Nurse Counseling for Patients to Prepare for Colonoscopy

E-Patient Counseling Trial E-PACO: Computer Based Education versus Nurse Counseling for Patients to Prepare for Colonoscopy

Published on: August 1, 2019

Disease Awareness, Care-Seeking Behavior, and Symptom Burden Among Japanese Patients with Generalized Anxiety

Keisuke Nomoto¹, Tempei Otsubo², Rikiya Misago¹

¹Medical Affairs, Viatris Pharmaceuticals Japan G.K., Tokyo, Japan.

Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment

|March 2, 2026

Abstract

Purpose:

This study was conducted among Japanese patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) who had participated in a clinical trial to investigate their level of disease awareness, past medical care-seeking behavior and diagnoses, symptoms and impact on daily life, perceptions of diagnosis and clinical assessment, and changes after trial participation. The patients' first-hand experiences related to symptoms and disease burden were collected through open-ended responses.

Patients And Methods:

This was a quantitative (descriptive observational) study using a web-based questionnaire conducted from April 23 to May 25, 2025. Patients diagnosed with GAD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, and previously enrolled in Study B2411367, a clinical trial of venlafaxine, a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, were eligible.

Results:

Data from 98 respondents were analyzed. The most frequently reported GAD symptoms at trial entry included excessive anxiety or worry (99.0%), becoming fatigued easily (86.7%), and sleep problems (82.7%). Over half of respondents (53.1%) identified work or studying as the most affected area of daily life, describing impaired concentration, reduced efficiency, and physical strain. Regarding disease awareness, 72.4% of respondents had never heard of GAD and 71.4% attributed their anxiety to their personality. Only 11.2% had sought medical care before trial participation, with depression being the most frequent diagnosis (36.4%) and only 9.1% having been diagnosed with GAD.

Conclusion:

Many patients with GAD were unaware of the disease name before trial entry and had symptoms that impacted daily life. The patients' first-hand accounts provided deeper insight into their burden. The findings highlight the unmet needs among Japanese patients with GAD who participated in a clinical trial and the situation of low public disease awareness and limited recognition in clinical settings. Efforts to increase awareness of GAD may help facilitate earlier diagnosis and broaden access to appropriate treatment.

Clinical Trial Registration:

UMIN000057689.

Keywords:

Japan awareness burden generalized anxiety disorder patient questionnaire

More Related Videos

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling

Published on: January 17, 2025

A Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Eating Disorder Analysis and Diagnosis

A Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Eating Disorder Analysis and Diagnosis

Published on: May 10, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

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: 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.

Assessment of the Gastrointestinal System II: Health Perception Pattern

Assessment of the Gastrointestinal System II: Health Perception Pattern

Assessing the gastrointestinal (GI) system is a complex process that begins with collecting subjective data. This data, collected through patient interviews, provides crucial insights into the patient's health history, perception patterns, and lifestyle habits, all contributing significantly to GI health.
Health Perception Patterns
Health perception patterns offer valuable insights into a patient's lifestyle habits and how they may impact their GI health. These patterns include:

Social Anxiety Disorder

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.

Panic Disorder

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...

Irritable Bowel Syndrome II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Evaluation

Irritable Bowel Syndrome II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Evaluation

Irritable Bowel Syndrome II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Evaluation
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is classified into subtypes based on the predominant bowel habits as determined by the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS). The subtypes are:

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Prevalence of Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Psychiatric Outpatients (PRADO Study): A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study in Japan.

Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment·2026

Effectiveness and Safety of Venlafaxine in Japanese Major Depressive Disorder Patients with or without Anxious Distress (EXPAND Study): A 12-Week Prospective Observational Study.

Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment·2026

Real-World Antidepressant Treatment Persistence in Children and Adolescents with Major Depressive Disorder in Japan: A Retrospective Nationwide Claims-Based Study.

Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment·2026

An open-label, long-term extension, multicenter study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of venlafaxine extended release in Japanese outpatients with generalized anxiety disorder.

PCN reports : psychiatry and clinical neurosciences·2026

Response to "Clinical relevance of venlafaxine ER for generalized anxiety disorder".

Psychiatry and clinical neurosciences·2026

Increased Antidepressant Prescriptions for Children and Adolescents with Major Depressive Disorder in Japan Based on a Claims Database.

Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment·2025

See all related articles