Generalized anxiety disorder in dysfunctional families

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 pa rents 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. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.