title: Group cognitive-behavioral therapy for generalized anxiety disorder: treatment outcome and long-term follow-up.
abstract: A recently developed cognitive-behavioral treatment for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) targets intolerance of uncertainty by the reevaluation of positive beliefs about worry, problem-solving training, and cognitive exposure. As previous studies have established the treatment's efficacy when delivered individually, the present study tests the treatment in a group format as a way to enhance its cost-benefit ratio. A total of 52 GAD patients received 14 sessions of cognitive-behavioral therapy in small groups of 4 to 6 participants. A wait-list control design was used, and standardized clinician ratings and self-report questionnaires assessed GAD symptoms, intolerance of uncertainty, anxiety, depression, and social adjustment. Results show that the treatment group, relative to the wait-list group, had greater posttest improvement on all dependent variables and that treated participants made further gains over the 2-year follow-up phase of the study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Centre for Research in Human Development, Concordia University and Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. dugas@vax2.concordia.ca
authors.forename: Michel J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Dugas
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ladouceur
authors.forename: Eliane
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Léger
authors.forename: Mark H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Freeston
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Langlois
authors.forename: Martin D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Provencher
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Boisvert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome