Teasing out generalized anxiety disorder diagnosis: a primary care challenge: how GAD, panic, anxiety disorders differ.(News)(generalized anxiety disorder)

MIAMI -- Many factors impede the diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder in primary care, according to a presentation at the annual conference of the Anxiety Disorders Association of America.

Differential diagnosis can be difficult. Symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) often overlap with major depressive disorder and other psychiatric conditions. In addition, patients do not always voice their concerns about anxiety during a clinical visit. Physicians may not inquire because of time constraints, said Dr. Larry Culpepper, chairman of the department of family medicine, Boston University.

"There is still an issue for us in primary care in …