Diagnostic Issues in Depression and Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and major depression (MD) form the largest
group of common mental disorders. These two conditions often occur together, and
emerging evidence suggests several similarities between them. As we move toward
revising the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders for DSM-V,
Diagnostic Issues in Depression and Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Refining the
Research Agenda for DSM-V explores the nosologic relationship between GAD and
MD. In this comprehensive manual, more than 45 contributors cover a wide range
of empirical and conceptual issues that face clinicians and researchers working
with GAD and MD today.

This book acts as a guidepost for the entire DSM
process. It reviews recent scientific advances in our understanding of the
interrelationship between GAD and MD, summarizes the body of evidence into a few
broad conclusions, and reflects on the implications of these findings for future
nosologic efforts. The contributing authors review empirical data from a variety
of perspectives-including genetics, biology, treatment, development, course,
predictors, disability, and psychosocial stressors-and then integrate results
from research on all these diverse validators to come up with a single
"bottom-line" recommendation regarding the relationship between GAD and MD. In
addition, the book considers conceptual issues, such as criteria for results
from validators, the relevance of results on symptoms of anxiety and depression,
weights of different classes of validators, and the rules for assigning
disorders into categories. And finally, it addresses the question of what new
kinds of data could be gathered that would help to clarify the relationship
between MD and GAD more definitively. Each chapter includes tables, charts, and
references to enhance the evidence presented on such diverse topics as: A
thorough review of the genetics of GAD and MD The role of psychotropics in
distinguishing between GAD and MD Biological and treatment aspects of GAD and
MD Psychometric aspects of GAD and MD Childhood risk factors associated with
GAD and MD Common mental disorders across cultures

Diagnostic Issues in
Depression and Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Refining the Research Agenda for
DSM-V develops operationalized criteria for nosologic decisions that enable
clinicians to bridge the gap between data to diagnostic recommendations. Not
only does the methodology of investigating an active interchange between
empirical and conceptual perspectives shed new light on the relationship between
GAD and MD, but it also carries implications for the rest of DSM-V.