Increased Functional Impairment Associated With Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Findings From a Systematic Literature Review
Author(s)
Erin Ferries, MPH, PhD1, Susan Suponcic, BA, MA, MSc, PhD2, Derek Louie, PharmD, MS3, Aishwarya Kulkarni, MS4, Mason Yeh, PhD4, Abigail Silber, MPH5, Matthew O'Hara, MBA6, Phong Duong, BSc, PharmD3, Jeff Strawn, MD7, Roger McIntyre, M.D., FRCPC8.
1HEOR, MindMed, Denver, CO, USA, 2Value & Access Advisors, LLC, St Petersburg, FL, USA, 3MindMed, New York, NY, USA, 4Trinity Partners LLC, Waltham, MA, USA, 5Trinity Life Sciences, Waltham, MA, USA, 6Trinity Life Sciences, HINGHAM, MA, USA, 7University of Cincinnati Ohio, Cincinnati, OH, USA, 8University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
1HEOR, MindMed, Denver, CO, USA, 2Value & Access Advisors, LLC, St Petersburg, FL, USA, 3MindMed, New York, NY, USA, 4Trinity Partners LLC, Waltham, MA, USA, 5Trinity Life Sciences, Waltham, MA, USA, 6Trinity Life Sciences, HINGHAM, MA, USA, 7University of Cincinnati Ohio, Cincinnati, OH, USA, 8University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
OBJECTIVES: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a condition characterized by excessive, persistent worry that is difficult to control. Understanding the broader impact of GAD on individuals’ lives and daily functioning is essential for improving clinical care and patient outcomes. This systematic literature review (SLR) seeks to characterize functional impairment in individuals with a diagnosis of GAD.
METHODS: A systematic search of literature identified peer-reviewed manuscripts and conference abstracts published in English from November 2004 - December 2024 in PubMed, MEDLINE, and EMBASE. The SLR was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist. During title/abstract screening, an artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced platform was used to facilitate the review process, where screenings were conducted with one human and one AI screener; results were adjudicated by another independent human. Full texts were dual screened by independent human reviewers.
RESULTS: 27,040 publications were identified on Embase and PubMed. After de-duplication, 18,759 publications were reviewed. Title/abstract screening and full-text review yielded 30 articles of interest that address the impact of GAD on daily functioning. Across the studies, functional impairment was measured with a variety of assessment tools, including the Sheehan Disability Scale and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Scale (WHO-DAS). Individuals with GAD reported lower levels of productivity, disruptions in functioning in social and family domains, and significant difficulties in work or school performance. The presence of painful physical symptoms and increasing anxiety severity was shown to further compound the impairment experienced by individuals with GAD.
CONCLUSIONS: Individuals living with GAD experience a pervasive burden that hinders their ability to perform daily activities. These insights emphasize the underrecognized impact of GAD on individuals' functional impairment, highlighting the substantial unmet needs in GAD.
METHODS: A systematic search of literature identified peer-reviewed manuscripts and conference abstracts published in English from November 2004 - December 2024 in PubMed, MEDLINE, and EMBASE. The SLR was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist. During title/abstract screening, an artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced platform was used to facilitate the review process, where screenings were conducted with one human and one AI screener; results were adjudicated by another independent human. Full texts were dual screened by independent human reviewers.
RESULTS: 27,040 publications were identified on Embase and PubMed. After de-duplication, 18,759 publications were reviewed. Title/abstract screening and full-text review yielded 30 articles of interest that address the impact of GAD on daily functioning. Across the studies, functional impairment was measured with a variety of assessment tools, including the Sheehan Disability Scale and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Scale (WHO-DAS). Individuals with GAD reported lower levels of productivity, disruptions in functioning in social and family domains, and significant difficulties in work or school performance. The presence of painful physical symptoms and increasing anxiety severity was shown to further compound the impairment experienced by individuals with GAD.
CONCLUSIONS: Individuals living with GAD experience a pervasive burden that hinders their ability to perform daily activities. These insights emphasize the underrecognized impact of GAD on individuals' functional impairment, highlighting the substantial unmet needs in GAD.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
CO149
Topic
Clinical Outcomes, Real World Data & Information Systems
Topic Subcategory
Clinical Outcomes Assessment
Disease
Mental Health (including addition)