Abstract

A CLINICAL INTERPRETATION OF THE TERM VISHAADA W.S.R. TO GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER

Sud Khyati S.*, Sud Sushant and Thaker Anup

ABSTRACT

Vishaada is a psychological disorder as old as mankind. The Ayurvedic texts have vividly described about various mental disorders and psychological disturbances. But the detailed description of these disorders is arbitrary except for Unmada and Apasmara. One such ill defined and unexplored term is Vishaada. Its references are so scattered which makes it very difficult for the clinicians to differentiate and diagnose this condition. Ayurvedic researchers have tried to study and compare the symptomatology of Generalized Anxiety Disorder under the umbrella of several psychological entities but there has been a lacuna in establishing a concrete conclusion to establish a comparative modern clinical entity in simulation to Vishaada. In the present work a detailed analytical, reflective, critical and evaluative review of both the historical as well as contemporary Ayurvedic medical literature was carried out. Although this work focuses primarily on Ayurveda, multidisciplinary literature and research have been analyzed along with the philosophical literature that relates to Vishaada. After studying the disorder in detail it was concluded that the psychological and somatic presentation of the disease entity Vishaada is similar to Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

Keywords: Vishaada, Generalized Anxiety Disorder.