Enhance your psychiatry board exam preparation with dynamic quizzes. Study multiple choice questions featuring hints and explanations. Stay exam ready!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.


Which symptom most aids in diagnosing generalized anxiety disorder when present more days than not for over six months?

  1. Being easily fatigued

  2. Decreased appetite

  3. Fear of having a panic attack

  4. Preoccupation with previous traumatic events

The correct answer is: Being easily fatigued

Being easily fatigued is a hallmark symptom of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), particularly when it occurs more days than not for an extended duration, such as over six months. This symptom often emerges from the chronic state of anxiety that characterizes GAD, as excessive worrying can lead to physical and mental exhaustion. Patients frequently report feeling drained and unable to maintain their usual levels of activity, which can significantly impact their daily functioning and overall quality of life. In the context of GAD, fatigue is linked to the persistent tension and restlessness that accompany constant worry, making it a key indicator for diagnosis. It's crucial to recognize that fatigue in GAD can be distinct from clinical depression or the fatigue seen in other anxiety disorders. The other options depict symptoms that may relate to different psychiatric conditions or are not as central to GAD. Decreased appetite can occur in various mental health disorders, but it is not a core feature of GAD. Similarly, fear of having a panic attack is more characteristic of panic disorder rather than GAD, where the worries are more generalized and pervasive. Lastly, preoccupation with previous traumatic events is more indicative of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) rather than GAD. Therefore, the prevalence of being easily fatigued