A preliminary investigation of the efficacy of an enhanced Cognitive Behavioural Treatment Program for Excessive Worry.

A preliminary investigation of the efficacy of an enhanced Cognitive Behavioural Treatment Program for Excessive Worry in individuals with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) using a case studies design.

Status

Not yet recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ANZCTR

Registry ID

ACTRN12609000807257

Enrollment

Registered

2009-09-16

Start date

2009-09-20

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2020-01-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

None listed

Brief summary

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a disabling disorder characterized by the central defining feature of pervasive, excessive and uncontrollable worry. Although the traditional Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) has been found to be effective for GAD patients, a significant proportion of these patients fail to achieve high end-state functioning. Recent research evidence have found GAD to be associated with a person's intolerance of uncertainty, unhelpful meta-cognitions, and deficits in emotional regulation. The current study thus aims to investigate the efficacy of an enhanced CBT treatment that teaches GAD patients skills in managing emotions, uncertainty and unhelpful meta-cognitions, in addition to the usual CBT skills. It is hypothesized that GAD-related symptoms in the patients will improve with the enhanced CBT treatment and the change of symptoms will be related to change in scores (baseline to post-treatment) in one or more of the aforesaid factors (i.e. emotion regulation, meta-cognitions and/or intolerance of uncertainty).

Interventions

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy a) the duration & frequency of therapy sessions: 12 x 1-hour sessions on a weekly basis. b) the overall duration of the therapy program: 12 weeks. c) the mode of administration: one-on-one sessions with a psychologist. d) the topics covered: managing emotions, uncertainty and unhelpful meta-cognitions.

Study design

Allocation

Non-randomised trial

Intervention model

Single group

Primary purpose

Treatment

Masking

Open (masking not used)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

18 Years to No maximum

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Patients must be 18 years old or older, and must meet the DSM-VI criteria for a primary diagnosis of GAD as assessed on the ADIS-IV.

Exclusion criteria

Patients who are psychotic, suicidal or have significant substance abuse problems.

Outcome results