Psychiatr. praxi. 2025;26(2):75-82 | DOI: 10.36290/psy.2025.014

Generalized anxiety disorder and its treatment

MUDr. Katarína Adamcová¹, MUDr. Pavla Stopková, Ph.D.^{1, 2}, Mgr. Markéta Jablonská¹, Mgr. David Jakeš^{1, 3}, Barbora Darmová^{1, 3}, Mgr. et Mgr. Iveta Fajnerová, Ph.D.^{1, 2}

¹ Národní ústav duševního zdraví, Klecany

² 3. lékařská fakulta Univerzity Karlovy, Praha

³ 1. lékařská fakulta Univerzity Karlovy, Praha

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by chronic and excessive worries across various aspects of daily life, including personal and work-related responsibilities, health, and interpersonal relationships. The diagnostic criteria undergo a slight modification with the transition from the 10th edition of the International classification of diseases (ICD-10) to the new version, ICD-11. This article examines the changes in the new classification, which is expected to become the diagnostic guideline in the coming years. The aim of this article is to explore in detail the characteristics of generalized anxiety disorder, its diagnostic challenges, and current treatment approaches, including the most modern techniques. GAD treatment typically involves pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, or a combination of both. Common complications in the successful treatment of GAD include side effects of medications or insufficient response to treatment, including resistance. A promising approach for patients may be the use of modern technologies in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, such as virtual reality used at our Virtual reality research center for mental health and neurosciences at the National institute of mental health in the treatment of anxiety disorders, including GAD.

Keywords: generalized anxiety disorder, mental disease classification, pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, virtual reality.

Accepted: June 9, 2025; Published: July 4, 2025  Show citation