اختلال اضطراب فراگیر در خانواده ناکارآمد

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between persistent prolonged dysfunction in parents and the development of Generalized Anxiety disorder (GAD). Initially, 940 adult subjects from a general practice were studied. Thirty-two parents aged 24 to 61 yr diagnosed with GAD served as the experimental group, while 117 healthy normal parents aged 24–66 yr made up the control group. The rate of dysfunctional families with parents diagnosed with GAD was significantly higher than in families with parents not diagnosed with GAD. Family dysfunction was associated with parents’ age both in men and in women. GAD was not connected with (1) parents’ age, (2) education, (3) employment, (4) country of origin or (5) number of children in the family. There was no significant difference between men and women in onset and duration of GAD. Implications for diagnostic and treatment issues are discussed.

GAD, as defined in DSM-III-R (American Psychiatric Association, 1987) is one of the anxiety states persisting for six months or more, and includes physiologic and psychologic manifestations of anxiety (Diamond & Grauer, 1987). The prevalence of GAD is estimated at between 2% and 5% of the normal population and 6–27% of psychiatric outpatients (Marks & Lader, 1973). There are reports in the literature suggesting an association between significant, unexpected, negative events and the onset of GAD (Blazer et al., 1987), and the presence of a genetic factor in GAD (Noyes et al., 1987; Torgersen, 1983). Currently, there are no systematic studies relating persistent, severe, prolonged, intercouple conflicts and the development of GAD in one or the other partner. This study was conducted (1) to test the validity of the relationship between GAD and severe family dysfunction and, (2) to investigate whether or not intercouple dysfunction generates GAD.