Quality of life in persons with generalised anxiety disorder

A study was carried out on the effects of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) on patients’ subjective perception of quality of life. The study involved comparing a group with GAD, a group with subthreshold GAD (and no comorbidity) and a group without disorders. The GAD group and the subthreshold GAD group showed a lower quality of life in different subscales of the Quality of Life Questionnaire than the group without disorders. Depressed mood and the proneness to worry were predictors of a lower quality of life. Results indicate that GAD and the characteristics associated with it (probably the proneness to worry) are associated with a lower quality of life, even when there is no comorbidity. Taking depressive symptoms and the tendency to worry into account when treating GAD could lead to better results and an improved quality of life for patients.