Genetic factors
Individuals who have a family history of anxiety / mood disorders are more likely to develop GAD.
Life experiences
Particularly stressful life incidents such as an accident or the sudden death of a close family member or friend.
Individuals who have gone through a traumatic life experience such as physical, emotional sexual abuse may also develop GAD.
Biological factors
Some changes in the brain functioning due to the chemical called neurotransmitters, that transmit information from one cell to another have also been linked to GAD.
Substance abuse
Excessive use of caffeine, alcohol, tobacco smoking have been established as a risk factor for developing anxiety disorders.
