범불안장애 환자와 일반인의 걱정 내용 및 심각도의 비교

Abstract

Objective : Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a common anxiety disorder characterized by exces- sive worries and anxiety symptoms. To distinguish between pathological and normal worries, this study compared the contents and severity of worries among patients with GAD with those of matched non-psychi- atric control. Methods : Thirty outpatients with GAD receiving treatment at the psychiatric department of Hanyang University Guri Hospital were recruited. As a matched control group, we selected 30 adults without psychi- atric history who participated in the Anxiety Disorder Survey, during the Mental Health Exposition held in Seoul in April, 2014. Matched demographic data were age, sex, education, and household income. Self-ques- tionnaires included demographic data, contents of worry (10 categories of worries and each severity), and the Pennsylvania State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ). Results : There was no statistical difference in the contents of worry between patient and control groups. However, the total PSWQ scores significantly higher in the GAD group. Conclusion : Our findings suggest that patients and non-patients worry about the similar contents and worries in GAD cannot be differentiated by what people worry about. Only the severity of worry was a dis- tinguishable feature. Our finding supported inclusion of the diagnostic criterion of “excessive worries’ in GAD.