Evaluation of Meditation as a Treatment for GAD.

Recently, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) has become a more prevalent mental health issue across the population. It is on the rise globally and is particularly affecting higher-income countries, such as the United States; in the United States, anxiety prevalence rose from 5.12% in 2008 to 6.68% in 2018 among adults aged 18 and older, indicating a significant upward trend. Furthermore, evidence suggests there is a significant number of people suffering from undiagnosed GAD, in addition to the diagnosed count. Most of the widely used methods like medication and professional therapy, while decently effective, can be expensive and inaccessible to many people. This literature review explores the effectiveness of mindfulness meditation, specifically Buddhist Vipassana, in managing GAD compared to conventional treatments.