Stuart has been feeling persistently anxious for the last four months, worrying about his car payments, job security, and his children's academic performance. Additionally, he has started experiencing dizziness and occasional heart palpitations. Which diagnosis best fits Stuart's symptoms?

Explanation

Stuart's ongoing excessive worry about various everyday concerns lasting more than six months, along with physical symptoms like dizziness and heart palpitations, are characteristic of generalized anxiety disorder. Illness anxiety disorder (formerly hypochondriasis) involves preoccupation with having a serious illness, which is not described here. Obsessive-compulsive disorder involves intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors, which Stuart does not report. Major depression presents with persistent low mood and loss of interest rather than primarily anxiety and worry. Therefore, generalized anxiety disorder is the most appropriate diagnosis.