Treatment of generalized anxiety disorder in older adults.
Older adults with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD; N = 75; M age = 67.1 years) were randomly assigned to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), a discussion group (DG) organized around worry-provoking topics, or a waiting period. Participants in both active conditions improved relative to the waiting list. Although CBT participants improved on more measures than DG participants, the authors found only I significant difference immediately after treatment and no differences at 6-month follow-up. Effect sizes were smaller than in younger samples, but CBT showed large effects and DG showed medium-sized effects Overall, results indicate that brief treatment of late-life GAD is beneficial, but they provide only limited support for the superiority of CBT to a credible comparison intervention.
Wetherell
Julie Loebach
JL
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego and VA San Diego Healthcare System 92161, USA. jwetherell@ucsd.edu
Gatz
Margaret
M
Craske
Michelle G
MG
D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male