Generalized anxiety disorder is defined as an anxiety disorder in which a person is continually tense, apprehensive, and in a state of autonomic nervous system arousal.

• A. An anxiety disorder in which a person is continually tense, apprehensive, and in a state of autonomic nervous system arousal.
• B. A mood disorder characterized by prolonged periods of sadness.
• C. A psychotic disorder characterized by delusions and hallucinations.
• D. A personality disorder marked by distrust and suspicion.

Answer: (A)

Generalized anxiety disorder centers on chronic, excessive worry and a state of ongoing autonomic arousal. The description in the option matches this: a person who is continually tense and apprehensive, with signs of autonomic nervous system arousal, is capturing the core pattern of GAD. This differentiates it from mood disorders, which focus on persistent mood states like sadness; from psychotic disorders, which involve delusions or hallucinations; and from personality disorders, such as those marked by distrust and suspicion. So this description best fits generalized anxiety disorder.