Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a relatively common anxiety problem that affects 3-4% of the population each year.¹

The main symptom of GAD is an exaggerated or unfounded state of worry and anxiety, often about such everyday matters as health, money, family, or work. Although people with GAD may realize that their anxiety is excessive or unwarranted, they are unable to simply "snap out of it." For them, the mere thought of getting through the day can provoke anxiety. GAD is often accompanied by physical symptoms, such as fatigue, headaches, muscle tension, and gastrointestinal problems.

What Causes GAD?

Like other complex medical illnesses, such as heart disease and diabetes, the exact causes of generalized anxiety disorder, or GAD, are difficult to explain. Research suggests that environmental and genetic factors may make a person more likely to develop the disorder. GAD may be caused by an imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain, particularly two neurotransmitters, called dopamine and serotonin, which are believed to regulate mood and behavior. Depression and/or other anxiety disorders are also common in people with GAD. The good news is that GAD is highly treatable.

Lexapro^® Effectively Treats GAD

LEXAPRO has been shown to effectively treat GAD, as well as depression^2,3. For many patients, relief from GAD and/or depression symptoms may begin after taking LEXAPRO for 1 or 2 weeks, but the full antidepressant/antianxiety effect may take 4 to 6 weeks. In addition, LEXAPRO has been proven to be well tolerated. In studies of patients taking 10 mg a day of Lexapro, the number of people who stopped taking Lexapro due to side effects was comparable to those who took placebo (sugar pill) in the treatment of depression, and low in the treatment of GAD.^2,4,5*

^*8% for Lexapro vs 4% for placebo in the comprehensive GAD safety database.

The GAD Self-Screener

If you think you may be suffering from GAD, take a few minutes to complete the Anxiety Self-Screener. This screener, which is adapted from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV, is a private document that you fill out. You can print it and share it with your healthcare professional; it can be helpful tool in initiating a conversation about your anxiety concerns.