The main feature of anxiety disorder is an excessive worry and delusional expectation that the person cannot prevent about the events he encounters in daily life.

Anxiety Disorder

Excessive/irrational worries and delusions are frequently seen regarding daily issues such as economic situation, possible work obligations, health problems, events that children may experience, housework, repairs, not being able to make appointments.

Anxiety disorder was defined as a state of pervasive anxiety accompanied by various somatic symptoms (pain of psychological origin), causing significant impairment in social or occupational functioning or significant stress in the patient.

Anxiety disorder is a common condition and reasonable estimates for its one-year prevalence range from 3% to 8%. The incidence in women is 50% higher than in men.

Only 33% of people with anxiety disorders seek psychological treatment. Many patients seek treatment for the somatic, physical manifestations of the disorder, often by referring to GPs, internists, cardiologists, pulmonologists, or gastroenterologists.

Like many mental disorders, the cause of anxiety disorder is unknown. However, biological studies suggest that neural transmission may be impaired in areas of the brain associated with anxiety (cortical structures, limbic system, basal ganglia, and cerebellum).

Since anxiety is a feeling that people create with their thoughts, factors such as "misconceptions", "negative thoughts", "overgeneralizing" and "having a negative point of view" are the main causes of anxiety disorder.


The psychological process that is especially important in anxiety disorder is the belief that the person "has no control over the environment". The dangers that may arise from uncontrollable events (accidents, diseases, disasters, etc.) keep the mind busy. The person constantly monitors the potentially dangerous stimuli and ignores the non-hazardous (pleasant) stimuli. This is a mental mechanism that operates automatically and unconsciously in patients.

People with Anxiety Disorder may not always accept that their worries are excessive and unfounded. Since the person cannot stop his intense anxiety, he has difficulty in focusing his attention on ordinary works and becomes distracted.

Patients are restless, quick-tempered and impatient. Face and body tense, hands often trembling. There may be twitches, tremors, aches and pains due to muscle tension. Head, back, shoulder pain and stiffness are common. Muscle tension is very intense, especially in the forehead muscles. Many patients experience sleep problems, nightmares and nightmares.


Complaints such as easy fatigue, dry mouth, excessive belching, difficulty in breathing and swallowing, palpitation, frequent urination, premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, tinnitus, dizziness, and numbness cause differential diagnosis problems.


The fact that anxiety symptoms cause physical illness concerns by individuals further aggravates the anxiety. In this case, it may be difficult to distinguish it from hypochondriasis (disease disease). With the advancing age, the incidence of anxiety disorders and the severity of the symptoms generally decrease. Nevertheless, 60-70% of anxiety disorders encountered in old age are General Anxiety Disorder.

Anxiety Disorder Diagnostic Criteria

Excessive anxiety and worry (anxious expectations) about many events or activities (such as success at work or school), occurring almost daily for at least 6 months.

The person finds it difficult to control their sadness.

Anxiety and sadness accompany three (or more) of the following six symptoms (at least some symptoms are almost always present during the past 6 months). NOTE: It is sufficient to have only one item in children.

(1)  restlessness, excessive excitement, or anxiety

(2)  easy fatigue

(3)  difficulty concentrating thoughts or a feeling of emptiness

(4)  irritability

(5)  muscle tension

(6)  sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless and restless sleep)

Anxiety, sadness, or physical complaints cause clinically significant stress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important functional areas.

The disorder is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition.

Most commonly, patients with anxiety disorders turn to a general practitioner or internist for help with certain somatic (physical complaints of psychological origin) symptoms. Alternatively, people refer to a specialist for a specific symptom – for example, chronic diarrhea.