Preliminary investigation of the role of previous exposure to potentially traumatizing events in generalized anxiety disorder.

Theories of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) highlight the relevance of stressful life events to this disorder's etiology. However, little empirical work has addressed the stressful events that may act as historical contributors to the development or maintenance of GAD. The present study provides an initial exploration of the association between exposure to potentially traumatizing events and GAD. In both analogue and clinical samples, GAD individuals were found to be more likely than nonanxious controls to report exposure to a potentially traumatizing event. These findings are discussed within the context of current theories of worry and GAD.