Anxiety disorders physical complaints

Primary care physicians are critical to the successful identification of GAD. Characterized by often-vague physical complaints, GAD must be distinguished from medical illnesses and other psychiatric disorders, though the high rate of comorbidity requires that a thorough evaluation for GAD be completed even when another disorder has been identified. GAD warrants particular consideration for those patients with nonspecific physical complaints who nevertheless have an urgent need for relief that has resulted in repeated office visits. The differential diagnosis for GAD includes other anxiety disorders, depression, and a variety of medical conditions and substance-induced syndromes. 

In contrast to panic disorder, the somewhat more subtle and persistent symptoms of GAD do not always command immediate attention. Although patients with GAD may present with a primary complaint of anxiety, they are more likely to complain of a physical ailment or another psychiatric condition or symptoms, for example, depression or insomnia. As such, many patients with GAD will seek treatment from a primary care physician long before recognizing the need for mental health care despite readily acknowledging that they have been anxious virtually all of their lives. 

Reactive Loss (adverse life events). Physical illness (myocardial infarct, cancer). Drugs (antihypertensives, alcohol, hormones). Other psychiatric disorders (senility). More than 60% of all depressions. Core depressive syndrome depression, anxiety, bodily complaints, tension, guilt. May respond spontaneously or to a variety of ministrations. 

Somatoform disorders are a group of diseases that include the complaint of physical pain, which lead the patient to believe they have a physical disease, though none can be found by medical investigation (24). A study was conducted where 151 patients received either Hypericum 300 mg twice daily or placebo. Efficacy was measured using the Hamilton Anxiety Scale, subfactor somatic anxiety (HAMA-SOM). After 6 weeks, the average HAMA-SOM... 

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