Loading icon
Health Information Center

Treatments for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Authors:
  • Amy Scholten, MPH
Publication Type:

ConditionInDepth

Treatments for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Certain health professionals are trained to treat GAD. They include psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and mental health counselors. Some primary care doctors are also trained to treat GAD.

Treatment for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) includes:

Psychotherapy can be as effective as medicine for GAD. It is usually the first treatment that is tried. Cognitive behavioral therapy is effective for GAD. It is often more effective when used with medicine.

The success of treatment varies from person to person. Some will feel better after only a few months of treatment. Others may take a year or more to feel better. Treatment can be more complicated if a person has other mental health problems.

Treatment involves:

Medications

Other treatments

Alternative and complementary therapies

References

  • Anxiety disorders. National Institute of Mental Health website. Available at: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders/index.shtml.
  • Generalized anxiety disorder. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/generalized-anxiety-disorder.
  • Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Anxiety and Depression Association of America website. Available at: https://www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad.
  • DeMartini J, Patel G, Fancher TL. Generalized anxiety disorder. Ann Intern Med. 2019;170(7):ITC49-ITC64

Contributors

  • Adrian Preda, MD
Last Updated:
2022-11-01

(C) Copyright 2022 EBSCO Information Services

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.