A clinician’s view of the reality of generalized anxiety disorder with Professor Koen Demyttenaere

Professor Koen Demyttenaere shared with us his perspective on generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), including the impact on the lives of people with GAD and the challenges of diagnosis. He highlighted that uncontrolled worry in GAD is the defining symptom, particularly if it becomes so pervasive that it impacts on a person’s day-to-day functioning. Professor Demyttenaere also pointed out that people with GAD frequently present with co-occurring psychiatric disorders, such as depression or alcohol use disorder, highlighting the importance of a thorough psychiatric evaluation to ensure that any co-morbid disorders are identified and can be actively treated.