CJO - Abstract - Varying temporal criteria for generalized anxiety disorder: prevalence and clinical characteristics in a young age cohort

Psychological Medicine (2006), 36: 1283-1292 Cambridge University Press

Copyright © 2006 Cambridge University Press

doi:10.1017/S0033291706007938

Published online by Cambridge University Press 31 May 2006

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Original Article

Varying temporal criteria for generalized anxiety disorder: prevalence and clinical characteristics in a young age cohort

JULES ANGST ^a1^c1, ALEX GAMMA ^a1, O. JOSEPH BIENVENU ^a2, WILLIAM W. EATON ^a3, VLADETA AJDACIC ^a1, DOMINIQUE EICH ^a1 and WULF RÖSSLER ^a1
^a1 Zurich University Psychiatric Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
^a2 School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
^a3 School of Public Health, Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA

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angst j [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

gamma a [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

joseph bienvenu o [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

eaton ww [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

ajdacic v [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

eich d [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

rossler w [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Abstract

Background. This study questions the 6-month duration criterion for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) used in DSM-III-R and DSM-IV.

Method. In adults from age 20/21 to 40/41 in the prospective Zurich Cohort Study, four groups of generalized anxiety syndromes defined by varying duration (2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months) were compared.

Results. Applying DSM-III (1979–1999) and DSM-III-R (1986–1999) criteria, there were no significant differences between the four groups in terms of family history of anxiety, work impairment, distress, treatment rates or co-morbidity with major depressive episodes (MDEs), bipolar disorder or suicide attempts. Only social impairment related to the length of episodes. The 6-month criterion of DSM-III-R and DSM-IV GAD would preclude this diagnosis in about half of the subjects treated for generalized anxiety syndromes.

Conclusions. In this epidemiological sample, the 6-month duration criterion for GAD could not be confirmed as clinically meaningful. GAD syndromes of varying duration form a continuum with comparable clinical relevance.

(Published Online May 31 2006)

Correspondence:
^c1 Zurich University Psychiatric Hospital, Lenggstrasse 31, PO Box 1931, CH-8032 Zurich, Switzerland. (Email: jangst@bli.unizh.ch)