Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Long Term Outlook
- Anxiety Disorders
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Causes of Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Symptoms and Diagnosis
- Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder
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Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Long Term Outlook
The Problem
Sufferers of generalized anxiety disorder are more likely to see a health professional about their problem than almost any other group of people who have a mental health issue. Most will be talking to the family GP (general practitioner), who may not have the specialist skills to provide them with the treatment they need. Their GP can refer them to health professionals who have the specialized skills and education, such as a counselor or psychiatrist, for long term therapy.
Without appropriate treatment, the generalized anxiety disorder sufferers may literally worry themselves sicker and sicker. There is the potential for a negative feedback cycle. Increased worrying tends to cause a worsening of symptoms, which naturally leads to even more worrying, a further worsening of symptoms, and so on.
The anxiety alone will eventually exact a toll from the body. Our bodies are not designed to bear high levels of anxiety over the months or years a sufferer faces. Eventually, the high levels of anxiety may cause the immune system to weaken, resulting in frequent illnesses. The sufferer may succumb to many of the common cold and influenza viruses that are prevalent in our society. High blood pressure and other factors may result in vascular and heart disease, which can be fatal, significantly shortening the life of the sufferer.
The Good News
The good news is that nearly all sufferers will see a large reduction in the symptoms of anxiety while undergoing the appropriate treatment. Certain new drug therapies have few side effects, and the range of effective ‘talking therapies’ is immense.
Furthermore, cognitive-behavioral therapy has been demonstrated to be able to effect lasting change. While most participants still struggle with worry from time to time, it no longer has a grip on their minds. Former generalized anxiety disorder sufferers learn to weigh up each concern and judge its merits before it turns into a worry.
Recurrence
Relapses are, unfortunately, fairly common, especially if treatment has not involved a therapeutic approach. One study looked at generalized anxiety disorder sufferers who were ending drug treatment and found that 25% had relapsed in a month, 60%-80% within a year. However, relapse rates were much lower if the drug program had lasted longer than six months.
Relapse rates are thought to be much lower if treatment has also involved a cognitive-behavioral component. While no statistics are available, cognitive-behavioral therapy has had success in preventing relapses across a selection of related anxiety disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and social phobia.
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