> Note: This article substantially overlaps with the comprehensive Tier 1 [[anxiety-disorders]] article, which covers GAD as one of the major anxiety disorder subtypes with full pathophysiology, assessment profile, and treatment plan. Flagged for retirement — consider redirecting to [[anxiety-disorders]] and removing this standalone article to avoid content duplication. The parent article includes GAD-specific pathophysiology (HPA axis, GABA, serotonin, norepinephrine), signs/symptoms, assessment profile with palpation findings, and a complete treatment plan foundation.