Some tests can be carried out to assist the doctor in diagnosing a generalized anxiety disorder ( Price & van Stolk-Cooke, 2015) . The first one is a physical exam aimed at looking for signs that the anxiety is linked to the medication or the patient has some underlying medical conditions. If the doctor suspects a medical condition, then he or she should order blood or urine tests. There should also be questions about the symptoms and the medical history ( Cuijpers et al., 2014) . A doctor may also use a psychological questionnaire in order to determine a diagnosis. Consequently, the doctor may also use the criteria listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and published by the American Psychiatric Association.
Treatment
The treatment applied is based on how significantly the disorder is affecting the ability of a person to function in their daily life. The two main treatments for the condition are psychotherapy and medications ( Cuijpers et al., 2014) . However, it is challenging because the doctor may not understand the treatment that works best for the patient. Psychotherapy involves the process of working with the therapist to reduce the anxiety symptoms. The most effective form of treatment is cognitive behavioral therapy ( Price & van Stolk-Cooke, 2015) . This condition focuses on teaching the patient some specific skills to directly manage their worries and be able to return to those activities that they had before the anxiety came in. The other method is the use of medications that include antidepressants. Some of the medications usually take a few weeks before they can start working. However, the medications are associated with some side effects that may lead to the person stopping taking these medications.
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References
Cuijpers, P., Sijbrandij, M., Koole, S., Huibers, M., Berking, M., & Andersson, G. (2014). Psychological treatment of generalized anxiety disorder: a meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review , 34 (2), 130-140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2014.01.002
Price, M., & van Stolk-Cooke, K. (2015). Examination of the interrelations between the factors of PTSD, major depression, and generalized anxiety disorder in a heterogeneous trauma-exposed sample using DSM 5 criteria. Journal of Affective Disorders , 186 , 149-155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2015.06.012
