Generalized anxiety disorder occurs worldwide, in people of every race, religion, and sex, though women are diagnosed with GAD more frequently than men. The disorder strikes in the early twenties, has a chronic course, and often occurs alongside other anxiety and mood disorders (e.g., depression).
Generalized Anxiety Disorder Causes & Risk Factors
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Dominion Hospital answeredSee All 4 AnswersDoctors are not exactly sure what specifically causes generalized anxiety disorder. Researchers believe it may be linked to genetic factors, stress, or environmental factors like learned behavior. It is also possible that the condition is a product of imbalanced levels of neurotransmitters in the brain, specifically serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Generalized anxiety disorder is quite common, and may be caused by a combination of factors.
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Research into environmental factors suggests that traumatic events in early life can make a person vulnerable to anxiety disorders. Parenting style, family environment and culture may influence susceptibility to GAD. Traumatic and stressful events, such as abuse, the death of a family or friend, or divorce, may contribute to GAD. In addition, the use of and withdrawal from addictive substances (alcohol, caffeine and nicotine), which are often used to “self-medicate,” can further increase anxiety. -
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Women are twice as likely to be affected as men by generalized anxiety disorder. The same is true of obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
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Many psychological factors appear to play a role in the development and maintenance of GAD. One of these factors is intolerance of uncertainty. Research also shows that people with GAD have greater difficulty dealing with uncertainty than individuals with other anxiety disorders and people from the general population.
The general consensus is that psychological factors like intolerance of uncertainty interact with biological and environmental factors in leading to the development and maintenance of GAD. -
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Dominion Hospital answered
There are several factors that may increase your risk for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Enduring a lot of stress in life increases your risk. Facing a serious illness, which causes a lot of worry, can also increase your risk for this disorder. Other factors include having a family member with GAD and childhood trauma. Your personality influences your risk because certain personality types are prone to worry and anxiety and personality disorders can be linked to anxiety. Generalized anxiety disorder occurs much more frequently in women than in men, thus being female may increase your risk.
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Dominion Hospital answeredSee All 2 Answers
Women are at a much greater risk for developing generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) than men. Twice as many women are diagnosed with the disorder. Although GAD can develop at any time in a person's life, the risk is greatest from childhood to middle age.
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Dominion Hospital answered
Genetics may affect the development of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Research has indicated that the role genetics play in developing GAD is small, but it does exist. If GAD has affected several members of your family, you may consider taking preemptive steps to reduce stress and manage anxiety in your life.
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Worrying is a natural part of life. All of us are predisposed to worrying about important things, like our children and families, our health, or our finances or life choices. Many mental disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), involve these normal tendencies being exaggerated or excessive. Due to certain factors, like genetics or stress, people with GAD worry to extreme levels, even when there is nothing clear to cause it.
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Dr. Michael J. Mufson, MD , Psychiatry, answeredAs with other anxiety disorders, certain abnormalities in the brain seem to predispose a person to generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). One is a low level of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that blocks the release of other neurotransmitters, thus modulating nerve impulses. Another is a low level of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that affects mood and sleep. Just how these chemical messengers influence anxiety is unknown, but anti-anxiety drugs and antidepressants that increase their levels relieve symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder.
Brain imaging studies of people with generalized anxiety disorder reveal other abnormalities: increased activity in the cortex and decreased activity in the basal ganglia. Although the precise implications are not clear, in general, such abnormalities indicate a problem with brain function that may prime the pump for an overreaction to stress. Because generalized anxiety disorder tends to run in families, experts believe that genes are at least partly responsible. Symptoms also surface or worsen under stress.