Diagnostic Issues in Depression and Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and major depression (MD) form the largest group of common mental disorders. These two conditions often occur together, and emerging evidence suggests several similarities between them. As we move toward revising the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders for DSM-V, Diagnostic Issues in Depression and Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Refining the Research Agenda for DSM-V explores the nosologic relationship between GAD and MD. In this comprehensive manual, more than 45 contributors cover a wide range of empirical and conceptual issues that face clinicians and researchers working with GAD and MD today. This book acts as a guidepost for the entire DSM process. It reviews recent scientific advances in our understanding of the interrelationship between GAD and MD, summarizes the body of evidence into a few broad conclusions, and reflects on the implications of these findings for future nosologic efforts. The contributing authors review empirical data from a variety of perspectives — including genetics, biology, treatment, development, course, predictors, disability, and psychosocial stressors — and then integrate results from research on all these diverse validators to come up with a single “bottom-line” recommendation regarding the relationship between GAD and MD. In addition, the book considers conceptual issues, such as criteria for results from validators, the relevance of results on symptoms of anxiety and depression, weights of different classes of validators, and the rules for assigning disorders into categories. And finally, it addresses the question of what new kinds of data could be gathered that would help to clarify the relationship between MD and GAD more definitively. Each chapter includes tables, charts, and references to enhance the evidence presented on such diverse topics as: A thorough review of the genetics of GAD and MD The role of psychotropics in distinguishing between GAD and MD Biological and treatment aspects of GAD and MD Psychometric aspects of GAD and MD Childhood risk factors associated with GAD and MD Common mental disorders across cultures Diagnostic Issues in Depression and Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Refining the Research Agenda for DSM-V develops operationalized criteria for nosologic decisions that enable clinicians to bridge the gap between data to diagnostic recommendations. Not only does the methodology of investigating an active interchange between empirical and conceptual perspectives shed new light on the relationship between GAD and MD, but it also carries implications for the rest of DSM-V.