The Carlat Psychiatry Podcast
Throwback Thursday: A Scandalous History of Anxiety
Aug 31, 2023
This podcast explores the controversial nature of generalized anxiety disorder, its historical origins, and its differentiation from panic disorder. The hosts discuss Freud's early perspective, the lifespan of anxiety, and its effects on depression and treatment considerations.
19:23
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Quick takeaways
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) has evolved over history, from vain fear in ancient times to anxiety neurosis in Freud's era, eventually being renamed as GAD in 1980.
- Anxiety disorders, including GAD, can coexist with other psychiatric conditions, such as depression or social anxiety disorder, and understanding the patient's history and identifying patterns can assist in treatment decisions.
Deep dives
The History of Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) has a long history dating back to ancient times when it was known as vain fear. Aristotle described a man who was anxious about everything, even the sound of a mouse. In 1895, Sigmund Freud coined the term anxiety neurosis, which closely resembles the modern definition of GAD. Freud believed that anxiety neurosis was caused by repressed sexual tension, although this aspect was not included in the DSM. In 1980, Robert Spitzer separated panic disorder from anxiety neurosis, renaming it generalized anxiety disorder. GAD is often a diagnosis of exclusion, as it can coexist with other psychiatric disorders like depression or social anxiety disorder.
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