Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder is a mental-health condition centered on anxiety. It is not the same as anxiety limited to a specific situation, such as dental treatment.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder is categorized within mental health.
This list shows research findings, not treatments. Nothing here replaces medical care. If you have this condition, talk to a doctor.
What may help
What studies found for each option, best evidence first.
13 options:4 some evidence6 not enough evidence2 not tested in people1 no benefit found
PsychotherapypracticeSome evidence it helpsSize of effect: Not known
Some human studies found a benefit. More research could change this.
All 4 studies with a clear result found a benefit.
Pooled randomized trials in adults with generalized anxiety disorder found reductions in anxiety with individual psychotherapy; sessions longer than 60 minutes were associated with larger effects. In a separate trial of 60 adults with DSM-5 generalized anxiety disorder, brief psychoanalytic psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy both reduced anxiety scores more than a waitlist.
Open the Psychotherapy pageYogapracticeSome evidence it helpsSize of effect: Not known
Some human studies found a benefit. More research could change this.
All 3 studies with a clear result found a benefit.
A review of randomized trials reported reduced anxiety symptoms. In a trial of 190 people with generalized anxiety disorder, homework compliance predicted response, and Kundalini Yoga outperformed SE among participants with high homework days.
Open the Yoga pageMindfulness MeditationpracticeSome evidence it helpsSize of effect: Not known
Some human studies found a benefit. More research could change this.
All 4 studies with a clear result found a benefit.
A review reported reduced anxiety with MBSR among people aged 13-26 with anxiety disorders, but did not provide pooled statistics. In an RCT involving 198 people with generalized anxiety disorder, self-compassion improved over time in both the MBSR and escitalopram groups, and MBSR was not superior overall.
Open the Mindfulness Meditation pageRed Light Therapy (Photobiomodulation)practiceSome evidence it helpsSize of effect: Not known
Some human studies found a benefit. More research could change this.
All 2 studies with a clear result found a benefit.
A single-arm study of 15 people reported improvements in CGI-S, HAM-A, and PSQI, but had no control group. A separate review listed Generalized Anxiety Disorder as a target condition without reporting a pooled efficacy result.
Open the Red Light Therapy (Photobiomodulation) pageAcupuncturepracticeNot enough evidence
Too few or too small studies to know if it works.
The one study found a benefit.
A 2025 meta-analysis of 14 randomized trials found reductions in HAMA, SAS, GAD-7, PSQI, and SDS scores compared with sham acupuncture for Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
Open the Acupuncture pageDancepracticeNot enough evidence
Too few or too small studies to know if it works.
1 of 2 studies found a benefit; 1 found none.
A review reported reduced SPA/negative self-evaluation after dance in 5 of 16 studies; the reported outcomes concern SPA and self-evaluation.
Open the Dance pageHatha YogapracticeNot enough evidence
Too few or too small studies to know if it works.
1 of 2 studies found a benefit; 1 found none.
A single-group pre-post study of Y-CBT reported statistically significant improvements in state and trait anxiety among people with treatment-resistant Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Findings differ by comparison: a meta-analysis pooling analyses whose designs were not recorded found no significant effect versus active control groups.
Open the Hatha Yoga pageMeditationpracticeNot enough evidence
Too few or too small studies to know if it works.
The one study found a benefit.
Open the Meditation page
The expert view shows every study, dose protocol and source.
What may help
Interventions recorded as helping with this condition13 listedMost likely to help, from the evidence we have
- →PracticesPsychotherapyCertaintyMediumSourceRCT
Pooled randomized trials in adults with generalized anxiety disorder found reductions in anxiety with individual psychotherapy; sessions longer than 60 minutes were associated with larger effects. In a separate trial of 60 adults with DSM-5 generalized anxiety disorder, brief psychoanalytic psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy both reduced anxiety scores more than a waitlist.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Anxiety Disorder
- Anxiety Generalized
- Depression
- Ocd
- Ptsd
Open PsychotherapyStudy result
Pooled within-subject treatment effects of individual psychotherapy across 41 RCTs in adults with GAD showed reductions in anxiety, with session length longer than 60 minutes associated with larger effects.
- →PracticesYogaCertaintyMediumSourceRCT
A review of randomized trials reported reduced anxiety symptoms. In a trial of 190 people with generalized anxiety disorder, homework compliance predicted response, and Kundalini Yoga outperformed SE among participants with high homework days.
Who was studied
- Healthy people and patients
- Anxiety Generalized
- Insomnia
- Lyme Disease
- Mild Cognitive Impairment
- Ocd
- Ptsd
Open YogaStudy result
Anxiety symptoms reduced across included RCTs.
- →PracticesMindfulness MeditationCertaintyMediumSourceClinical
A review reported reduced anxiety with MBSR among people aged 13-26 with anxiety disorders, but did not provide pooled statistics. In an RCT involving 198 people with generalized anxiety disorder, self-compassion improved over time in both the MBSR and escitalopram groups, and MBSR was not superior overall.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Anxiety Generalized
Open Mindfulness MeditationStudy result
Review reports significant reductions in anxiety levels with MBSR in individuals aged 13-26 with anxiety disorders, without pooled statistics in the abstract.
- →PracticesRed Light Therapy (Photobiomodulation)CertaintyMediumSourceClinical
A single-arm study of 15 people reported improvements in CGI-S, HAM-A, and PSQI, but had no control group. A separate review listed Generalized Anxiety Disorder as a target condition without reporting a pooled efficacy result.
Who was studied
- Healthy people and patients
- Alzheimers Disease
- Anxiety Disorder
- Anxiety Generalized
- Depression
- Low Libido
- Major Depressive Disorder
- +3 more
Open Red Light Therapy (Photobiomodulation)Study result
Listed as a target condition in the review; no pooled efficacy result reported in the abstract
Low probability(8)
- →PracticesAcupunctureCertaintyLowSourceRCT
A 2025 meta-analysis of 14 randomized trials found reductions in HAMA, SAS, GAD-7, PSQI, and SDS scores compared with sham acupuncture for Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Anxiety Generalized
Open AcupunctureStudy result
Meta-analysis of 14 RCTs showing significant reductions in HAMA, SAS, GAD-7, PSQI, and SDS compared to sham acupuncture.
- →PracticesDanceCertaintyLowSourceClinical
A review reported reduced SPA/negative self-evaluation after dance in 5 of 16 studies; the reported outcomes concern SPA and self-evaluation.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Depression
Open DanceStudy result
5 of 16 studies (Adilogullari; Donath; Norouzi; Rao; Salmons) reported reduced SPA/negative self-evaluation after dance, with SPAI used by Adilogullari
- →PracticesHatha YogaCertaintyLowSourceClinical
A single-group pre-post study of Y-CBT reported statistically significant improvements in state and trait anxiety among people with treatment-resistant Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Findings differ by comparison: a meta-analysis pooling analyses whose designs were not recorded found no significant effect versus active control groups.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Anxiety Generalized
- Depression
- Eating Disorder Anorexia
- Eating Disorder Bulimia
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Ptsd
Open Hatha YogaStudy result
Single-group pre-post study of Y-CBT showing statistically significant improvements in STAI state and trait anxiety in a treatment-resistant GAD population
- →PracticesMeditationCertaintyLowSourceClinical
Superiority RCT of 140 adults with DSM-5 GAD randomized to iSM+TAU vs TAU; significant ITT improvements in HAMA and HAMD-21 at posttreatment and 3-month follow-up, with no serious adverse events.
Open MeditationWho was studied
- People with a condition
- →PracticesQigongCertaintyLowSourceClinical
The review described a study protocol intended to evaluate HCQB combined with APS for reducing APA, but reported no results. It therefore does not establish whether the approach benefits generalized anxiety disorder.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Anxiety Generalized
Open QigongStudy result
The protocol states the study aims to evaluate the effect of HCQB combined with APS on reducing APA, but no results are reported.
- →PracticesSwedish (Classic) MassageCertaintyLowSourceClinical
A trial of 47 untreated adults with DSM-IV GAD found reduced HARS scores with SMT compared with light touch. A small preliminary trial also reported HAM-A decreases over 12 weeks with twice-weekly SMT.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Anxiety Disorder
- Anxiety Generalized
Open Swedish (Classic) MassageStudy result
Trial enrolled untreated adults with DSM-IV GAD and reported reduced HARS scores with SMT versus light touch.
- →PracticesCoherent BreathingCertaintyLowSourceTheoretical
For Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Coherent Breathing is used as a behavioral technique aimed at reducing physiological arousal.
Open Coherent BreathingStudy result
Used as a behavioral technique to reduce physiological arousal in generalized anxiety disorder.
- →PracticesPursed-Lip BreathingCertaintyLowSourceTheoretical
Breathing exercises are used in cognitive-behavioral interventions for anxiety to reduce hyperventilation and promote autonomic balance.
Open Pursed-Lip BreathingStudy result
Used in cognitive-behavioral interventions for anxiety to reduce hyperventilation and promote autonomic balance.
Very low probability(1)
- →PracticesBreathworkCertaintyVery lowSourceClinical
A trial in 140 participants did not measure anxiety symptoms; it measured cardiac autonomic markers instead, so it did not establish an effect on Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
Open BreathworkWho was studied
- People with a condition
- Anxiety Generalized
What to avoid
Interventions recorded as making it worseNothing in this library is currently recorded as making Generalized Anxiety Disorder worse. Coverage is partial, and absence here is not evidence of safety.
How to read the evidence
Evidence tier — overall strength of the evidence for the whole compound
- StrongWell established — backed by strong, consistent human research.
- ModerateSome genuine support, but mostly from small or lower-quality studies. Promising, not proven.
- PreliminaryEarly-stage evidence — a promising hypothesis, not an established effect yet.
- LimitedVery limited evidence — treat this as a hypothesis, not proof.
- InsufficientNot enough good evidence to draw conclusions yet.
Certainty — how sure we can be that the effect is real
- Very highVery sure — strong, consistent evidence
- HighFairly sure — consistent evidence from good studies
- MediumModerately sure — new studies could change this
- LowNot sure — little or mixed evidence
- Very lowVery unsure — almost no usable evidence
Source — where the data comes from
- Meta-analysisPooled analysis of many trials — the strongest evidence
- RCTRandomized controlled trial — a strong human study design
- ClinicalA human clinical study
- Reference knowledgeFrom general health-science or pharmacology references, not a study of this exact claim
- Animal researchStudied in animals, not humans
- Community reportsAggregated user reports — anecdotal signal, not evidence
- TheoreticalMechanism-based reasoning, not yet tested
Study grade — quality of each underlying study (A best, D weakest)
- AHigh-quality — strong, consistent human trials
- BGood — solid evidence with some limitations
- CModerate — limited, small, or mixed-quality studies
- DWeak — preliminary, indirect, or animal-only
Confidence — how strongly the sources back a finding
A 0–100 score from study quality and agreement
Most supplement evidence is graded C–D. Read it as preliminary signal, not proof.
Full write-up
What is it
Generalized Anxiety Disorder is a mental-health condition centered on anxiety. It is not the same as anxiety limited to a specific situation, such as dental treatment. Research involving Chamomile and Lavender Extract has examined dental anxiety, while research involving Curcumin has included otherwise healthy obese people; these contexts may not represent every person with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Findings about anxiety-related outcomes therefore require careful interpretation alongside the individual’s circumstances and diagnosis.
Evidence-backed options
The evidence associated with these options is not a single, uniform body of research on Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Findings come from varied settings, including dental procedures, sports, otherwise healthy obese people, people with mental deterioration, and premedication before treatment. These contexts may not reflect the persistent, generalized symptoms experienced by people with this condition, so the findings should not be assumed to apply equally to everyone with Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
The available findings do not establish a consistent dose, treatment duration, or time to onset. As a result, they cannot show how quickly an option might act, how long any effect might last, or which regimen was actually tested across the different options. The strength of support also varies, with some options having more direct clinical findings and others relying on reviews or less robust evidence.
The results are not uniformly favorable: 5-HTP did not affect the GAI score, and caffeine intake was associated with increased anxiety risk, while Inositol is described as having less robust evidence for generalized anxiety than for panic disorder. Overall, these findings are best understood as preliminary or context-specific evidence rather than confirmation that any option treats Generalized Anxiety Disorder. A clinician can help interpret whether research from these different populations is relevant to an individual medical situation.