Differential consideration
GAD
F41.1Anxiety & Fear-Based
Why consider it
worry is ego-syntonic, future-focused, realistic - OCD obsessions are ego-dystonic, intrusive, irrational
Criteria and features to review
- A. Excessive anxiety/worry about multiple events/activities, more days than not for ≥6 months
- B. Difficulty controlling the worry
- C. ≥3 of 6 somatic/cognitive symptoms (≥1 in children): restlessness; easily fatigued; difficulty concentrating; irritability; muscle tension; sleep disturbance
- D. Clinically significant distress or impairment
Questions to clarify
- Which documented criteria and exclusions are met for each possibility?
- What timeline, course, and functional change best distinguishes the alternatives?
- Are substance, medication, medical, developmental, and contextual explanations adequately assessed?