Efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral treatment for generalized anxiety disorder: Evaluation in a controlled clinical trial

Recent advances in the understanding of worry have led to the development o f treatments for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The present study test ed a GAD treatment that targeted intolerance of uncertainty, erroneous beli efs about worry, poor problem orientation, and cognitive avoidance. Twenty- six primary GAD patients were randomly allocated to a treatment condition ( n = 14)or a delayed treatment control condition (n = 12). Self-report, clin ician, and significant other ratings assessed GAD and associated symptoms. The results show that the treatment led to statistically and clinically sig nificant change at posttest and that gains were maintained at 6- and 12-mon th follow-ups. Furthermore, 20 of 26 participants (77%) no longer met GAD d iagnostic criteria following treatment. With regard to the treatment's unde rlying model, the results show that intolerance of uncertainty significantl y decreased over treatment and that gains were maintained at both follow-up s. Although nonspecific factors were not significant predictors of treatmen t outcome, their role in the treatment of GAD requires further investigatio n.