GENERALIZABILITY OF DSM-III-R GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDERS TO PROPOSED DSM-IV CRITERIA AND CROSS-VALIDATION OF PROPOSED CHANGES

Proposed changes in the diagnostic criteria for generalized anxiety di sorder (GAD) in DSM-IV could affect the generalizability of prior rese arch on DSM-III-R GAD. It would thus be important to determine whether clients selected by the differing criteria are similar or dissimilar. Replication of the results that led to the proposed changes would als o be useful for strengthening their validity. We examined 40 clients w ith DSM-III-R GAD and 36 nonanxious subjects using a modified Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule and a self-report questionnaire, both of which included questions relevant to the proposed changes. All DSM-III -R GAD clients met DSM-IV criteria, the proposed diagnostic features w ere found to be highly prevalent among the clients, and these features significantly differentiated the clients from control subjects. The r esults provide further empirical support for the proposed DSM-IV diagn ostic criteria for GAD and suggest that these criteria will allow for continuity in GAD research.