EFFICACY OF APPLIED RELAXATION AND COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL THERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER

Nondirective (ND), applied relaxation (AR), and cognitive behavioral ( CBT) therapies for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) were compared. T he latter 2 conditions were generally equivalent in outcome but superi or to ND at postassessment. The 3 conditions did not differ on several process measures, and ND created the greatest depth of emotional proc essing. Follow-up results indicated losses in gains in ND, maintained gains in the other 2 conditions, especially CBT, and highest endstate functioning for CBT. AR and CBT thus contain active ingredients in the treatment of GAD; support exists for further development of imagery e xposure methods or cognitive therapy because of their likely role in p romoting maintenance of change with this disorder. Expectancy for impr ovement was also associated with outcome, suggesting the need for furt her research on this construct for understanding the nature of GAD and its amelioration.