DisorderDistinguishing featureAge of onsetAssociated symptomsCourse of illnessFamily history
Generalized anxiety disorderWorry about a specific concernEarly 20sRestlessness, motor tension, fatigueChronicGeneralized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, alcohol abuse
Panic disorderIntense, brief, acute anxiety; frequency of attacks variable; often no precipitantBimodal onset (late adolescence, mid-30s)Rapid heart rate, trembling, diaphoresis, dyspneaVariable periods of remissions and relapsesPanic disorder, major depression, alcohol abuse
Major depressionPersistently low mood; may be accompanied by persistent anxietyMid-20sNeurovegetative symptoms (e.g., insomnia, lack of appetite, guilt)Symptoms remit but may recurMajor depression, alcohol abuse