Specificity of generalized anxiety disorder symptoms and processes

This study's main goal is to test the broad specificity of generalized anxi ety disorder (GAD) symptom and process variables. These variables were comp ared in four groups of participants: (1) 24 patients with primary GAD, (2) 24 patients with secondary GAD, (3) 38 other anxiety disorder patients, and (4) 20 nonclinical control subjects. Each participant received a structure d diagnostic interview and a series of standardized questionnaires. The res ults show that DSM-IV GAD symptoms (worry, GAD physical symptoms, and inter ference due to worry and anxiety) distinguish GAD patients from those with other anxiety disorders. Two process variables, problem orientation and int olerance of uncertainty, also differentiated GAD patients from other anxiet y disorder patients. Overall, these results support the DSM-IV definition o f GAD and the broad specificity of problem orientation and intolerance of u ncertainty as GAD process variables.