Generalised Anxiety Disorder

Key points

• GAD: excessive, uncontrollable worry about multiple everyday matters on most days for ≥ 6 months.
• Features: restlessness, fatigue, poor concentration, irritability, muscle tension, disturbed sleep.
• NICE stepped care: education → guided self-help/psychoeducation → CBT or SSRI (sertraline first-line).
• Pregabalin is an option if SSRIs unsuitable; avoid benzodiazepines except short-term crisis.
• Physical causes to exclude: hyperthyroidism, caffeine, drugs.

Decision points in this pathway

• Initial management

The full step-by-step algorithm, including what to do at each branch, opens in the app for approved members.