DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for GAD

Excessive Anxiety & Worry: More days than not for at least six months about numerous events/activities (e.g., work, health, family).

Uncontrollable Worry: The individual finds it difficult to control the worry.

Associated Symptoms: The anxiety is associated with three of the following (at least some symptoms present for at least six months):

Restlessness, keyed-up, or on-edge feeling.

Being easily fatigued.

Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank.

Irritability.

Muscle tension.

Sleep disturbance (difficulty falling/staying asleep, or restless sleep).

Significant Distress: The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other functional areas.

DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for Panic Disorder

Recurrent Unexpected Panic Attacks: An abrupt surge of intense fear/discomfort (peaking within minutes) with four or more symptoms, such as palpitations, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, dizziness, or fear of losing control/dying.

Persistent Concern/Change in Behavior: At least one attack is followed by one month or more of one or both:

Persistent concern or worry about additional panic attacks or their consequences.

A significant maladaptive change in behavior related to the attacks (e.g., avoiding exercise, caffeine, or unfamiliar situations).

DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for Agoraphobia

Marked fear/anxiety about two or more of the following situations: using public transport such as planes, trains, or driving or riding in a car; open spaces; enclosed spaces; standing in line/crowds; or being outside the home alone.

Escape might be difficult or help unavailable if panic-like symptoms occur.

Duration: Lasts six months or more.

Active Avoidance: Situations are actively avoided, require a companion or safety behavior (e.g. carrying medication, water, etc.), or are endured with intense anxiety.

Distress: The fear is out of proportion to the actual danger, causing significant impairment in social or occupational functioning.

DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for Specific Phobias

Marked Fear: Intense fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation.

Immediate Response: Fear is almost always triggered instantly upon exposure or anticipation of the stimulus.

Active Avoidance: The individual actively avoids the situation/object or endures it with intense distress.

Disproportionate Fear: The fear is unreasonable or vastly out of proportion to the actual danger posed.

Duration: The fear is persistent, usually lasting six months or longer.

Significant Impairment: The phobia causes significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

Common examples include but are not limited to:

Animal: Spiders, insects, dogs, snakes.

Natural Environment: Heights, storms, etc.

Blood-Injection-Injury (BII): Needles, invasive medical procedures, seeing blood (sometimes accompanied by a vasovagal response).

Situational: Airplanes, elevators, enclosed places.

DSM-5 Criteria for OCD

Obsessions: Defined by recurrent, persistent, intrusive, and unwanted thoughts, urges, or images causing marked anxiety/distress. The individual attempts to ignore, suppress, or neutralize them with another action.

Compulsions: Defined by repetitive behaviors (e.g., washing, checking, arranging) or mental acts (e.g., praying, counting) the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession.

Connection to Distress: The behaviors are aimed at reducing distress or preventing a dreaded event, but are not connected in a realistic way, or are clearly excessive.

Time Consumption: Symptoms must consume significant time (at least one hour per day) or cause clinically significant distress/impairment.

DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for Illness Anxiety Disorder

Preoccupation: The individual is preoccupied with having or acquiring a serious illness.

Somatic Symptoms: Somatic symptoms are not present or, if present, are only mild in intensity. If a known medical condition is present or there is a high risk of developing one, the preoccupation is clearly excessive or disproportionate.

High Anxiety: A high level of anxiety about health is present, and the individual is easily alarmed about personal health status.

Excessive Behaviors/Avoidance: The individual performs excessive health-related behaviors (e.g., repeated checking of body for signs of illness) or exhibits maladaptive avoidance (e.g., avoiding doctor appointments).

Duration: Illness-related preoccupation has been present for at least 6 months, although the specific illness feared may change.

DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for PTSD

Stressor Exposure (1 required): Direct exposure, witnessing in person, learning that a close family member/friend was exposed, or extreme indirect exposure (e.g., first responders) to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence.

Intrusion Symptoms (1 required): Recurrent, involuntary, intrusive memories; traumatic nightmares; flashbacks (dissociative reactions); intense distress at reminders.

Avoidance of stimuli related to trauma (1 required): Avoiding thoughts or feelings; avoiding external reminders (people, places, conversations, activities).

Negative Alterations in Cognitions/Mood (2 required): Inability to recall key features of the trauma; over-negative beliefs about oneself, others, or the world; blaming oneself/others; negative emotions; reduced interest in activities; feeling detached.

Alterations in Arousal/Reactivity (2 required): Irritability or angry outbursts; reckless/self-destructive behavior; hypervigilance; exaggerated startle response; difficulty concentrating; sleep disturbance.

Duration: Symptoms last more than one month.

Functional Impairment: Significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other areas.