- 🔬Pathophysiology
- Genetic vulnerability with neurobiological changes in serotonin, noradrenergic and GABA systems.
- 🩺Signs & Symptoms
- Excessive, hard-to-control worry ≥6 months + restlessness, fatigue, irritability, muscle tension, sleep disturbance.
- 🎯Gold Standard Diagnosis
- Clinical (DSM-5): excessive, hard-to-control worry >=6 months with >=3 of 6 associated symptoms (GAD-7).
- 💊First-line Treatment
- SSRIs/SNRIs first-line + CBT; avoid long-term benzodiazepines.