Cognitive-behavioral treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) for older adults.
BACKGROUND
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is one of the most prevalent anxiety disorders among the elderly. Estimates of prevalence vary from around 3% to 12%, depending on the minimum age considered and the assessment instruments. The present study tests a GAD-specific treatment recently validated among adults (Ladouceur et al., 2000) and adapted for older adults.


METHODS
Eight older adults (aged from 60 to 71) were included in a single-case experimental multiple-baseline design across subjects. Assessments were conducted at pre-test, post-test and at 6- and 12-months follow-ups. The treatment consisted of awareness training, worry interventions and relapse prevention. The worry interventions targeted intolerance of uncertainty, beliefs about worry, problem-solving and cognitive avoidance.


RESULTS
According to daily self-monitoring of worry, ADIS-IV ratings and self-reported questionnaire scores, seven out of eight participants showed clinically significant improvement at post-test. These therapeutic gains were maintained at 6- and 12-month follow-ups.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that a cognitive-behavioral treatment that targets intolerance of uncertainty, erroneous beliefs about worry, poor problem orientation and cognitive avoidance is effective for treating GAD among elderly people.
Ladouceur
Robert
R
Ecole de Psychologie, Université Laval, Ste-Foy, Qc., Canada G1K 7P4. robert.ladouceur@psy.ulaval.ca
Léger
Eliane
E
Dugas
Michel
M
Freeston
Mark H
MH
D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D001364:Awareness; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011340:Problem Solving; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires