[Comorbidity in generalized anxiety disorder: prevalence and course after cognitive-behavioural therapy].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the prevalence and course of Axis I concurrent disorders in a population of patients who underwent cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) to treat their generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).


METHODS
This study is a secondary analysis combining patients from 3 treatment studies done at Université Laval. A total of 90 patients with a DSM-IV consistent GAD diagnosis received from 12 to 16 CBT sessions to treat GAD. Symptomatology was assessed at pretest, posttest, and 6 months after treatment, with the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule, a structured diagnostic interview.


RESULTS
Seventy-three per cent of patients had both GAD and a concurrent diagnosis. The most common diagnoses were simple phobia, social phobia, panic disorder, and major depression. CBT applied to GAD decreases the number of concurrent diagnoses. A panic disorder or a greater number of concurrent diagnoses at pretest is associated with a less efficient treatment at follow-up 6 months later.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with GAD have a high comorbidity rate with other Axis I disorders, but these significantly decrease after a short CBT aimed at GAD. Implications for GAD treatment and mechanisms that might explain these findings are discussed.
Provencher
Martin D
MD
Unité de thérapie cognitivo-comportementale, Département de psychiatrie, Hôtel-Dieu de Lévis, Lévis, Québec. Martin.Provencher@ssss.gouv.qc.ca
Ladouceur
Robert
R
Dugas
Michel J
MJ
D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome