Which description best fits the course of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?

• A. Chronic but fluctuating with current life stress
• B. Alternating periods of mania and depression
• C. Sudden, discrete panic attacks
• D. A pattern of avoidance of social situations

Answer: (A)

Generalized Anxiety Disorder tends to be a long-lasting pattern of excessive, difficult-to-control worry. The course is chronic, meaning the worry persists for many months, and the intensity can wax and wane, often increasing during real-life stressors. This description—chronic with fluctuations tied to current life stress—best fits how GAD behaves over time. It’s not defined by discrete episodes of mood change or panic, nor by avoidance of social situations, so the other patterns don’t match GAD’s typical course. In short, the worry is persistent and pervasive, with moments of greater intensity during stress but without clear, isolated episodes.