American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

Which symptom is NOT typically included in the diagnostic criteria for generalized anxiety disorder?

1. Restlessness

2. Fatigue

3. Aching joints

4. Irritability

The correct answer is: Aching joints

In the diagnostic criteria for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), the symptoms outlined in the DSM-5 include excessive anxiety and worry occurring more days than not for at least six months, and these worries are accompanied by several physical and cognitive symptoms. Common symptoms include restlessness, feeling fatigued, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep disturbance. Aching joints, while it might occur in an individual with GAD or another condition, is not typically one of the associated symptoms for diagnosis. It doesn't align with the criteria that emphasize psychological and physiological markers of anxiety rather than somatic complaints like joint pain, which are more characteristic of other medical conditions or specific somatic disorders. Therefore, acknowledging aching joints as a non-typical symptom supports a precise understanding of the diagnostic framework for GAD.