What is generalized anxiety disorder characterized by?

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is primarily characterized by excessive and uncontrollable worry about a variety of different topics or situations, which can manifest as nebulous anxiety. Individuals with GAD often find themselves experiencing persistent anxiety that is not limited to specific events or stressors, leading to a pervasive sense of unease in their daily lives. This anxiety can interfere significantly with daily functioning and can arise spontaneously, making it different from anxiety linked to particular situations or fears.

In contrast, other options point to different forms of anxiety disorders. Specific phobias are characterized by intense fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation. Social fears relate to anxiety in social situations and are central to social anxiety disorder, while compulsive behaviors are usually associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) rather than GAD. Thus, the defining characteristic of generalized anxiety disorder is its vague, widespread nature of anxiety that spans across various areas of life, making it distinct from other anxiety disorders.