Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is associated with substantial personal and societal cost
yet is the least successfully treated of the anxiety disorders. In this review, research on
clinical features, boundary issues, and naturalistic course, as well as risk factors and
maintaining mechanisms (cognitive, biological, neural, interpersonal, and developmental),
are presented. A synthesis of these data points to a central role of emotional hyperreactivity,
sensitivity to contrasting emotions, and dysfunctional attempts to cope with strong emotional …