Specificity of generalized anxiety disorder symptoms and processes

This study's main goal is to test the broad specificity of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) symptom and process variables. These variables were compared 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 structured diagnostic interview and a series of standardized questionnaires. The results show that DSM-IV GAD symptoms (worry, GAD physical symptoms, and interference due to worry and anxiety) distinguish GAD patients from those with other anxiety disorders. Two process variables, problem orientation and intolerance of uncertainty, also differentiated GAD patients from other anxiety disorder patients. Overall, these results support the DSM-IV definition of GAD and the broad specificity of problem orientation and intolerance of uncertainty as GAD process variables.