## DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for Generalised Anxiety Disorder **Key Point:** The minimum duration of excessive worry and anxiety symptoms for GAD diagnosis is **6 months**, not shorter periods. ### Duration Requirement The DSM-5 specifies that symptoms must be present for **at least 6 months** to meet the diagnostic threshold for GAD. This extended duration requirement distinguishes GAD from transient anxiety or adjustment disorders. ### Why This Duration Matters - Differentiates GAD from **acute stress reaction** (shorter duration) - Separates GAD from **adjustment disorder with anxiety** (typically resolves within 6 months of stressor removal) - Ensures chronicity is established before diagnosis - Reflects the persistent, pervasive nature of GAD ### Other Key DSM-5 Criteria for GAD | Criterion | Requirement | | --- | --- | | **Excessive worry** | Present more days than not | | **Number of symptoms** | ≥3 of 6 symptoms (restlessness, fatigue, concentration difficulty, irritability, muscle tension, sleep disturbance) | | **Functional impairment** | Clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas | | **Exclusion** | Not attributable to substance use or medical condition | **High-Yield:** The 6-month duration is a high-yield fact frequently tested in NEET PG. Students often confuse this with the 1-month criterion for major depressive disorder or the 2-week minimum for acute stress disorder. [cite:DSM-5]
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