Psychological therapy based on CBT principles is effective in reducing anxiety symptoms for short-term treatment of GAD .
The body of evidence comparing CBT with other psychological therapies is small and heterogeneous , which precludes drawing conclusions about which psychological therapy is more effective .
BACKGROUND Generalised anxiety disorder ( GAD ) is a highly prevalent condition , characterised by excessive worry or anxiety about everyday events and problems .
The effectiveness and effectiveness of psychological therapies as a group has not yet been evaluated in the treatment of GAD .
OBJECTIVES To examine the efficacy and acceptability of psychological therapies , categorised as cognitive behavioural therapy ( CBT ) , psychodynamic therapy and supportive therapy , compared with treatment as usual/waiting list ( TAU/WL ) and compared with one another , for patients with GAD .
Phenomenology and course of generalised anxiety disorder.
BACKGROUND The diagnostic category of generalised anxiety disorder ( GAD ) was originally intended to describe residual anxiety states . Over the years clinical criteria have been refined in an attempt to describe a unique diagnostic entity . Given these changes , little is known about the clinical course of this newly defined disorder . This study investigates the longitudinal course , including remission and relapse rates , for patients with DSM-III-R defined GAD . METHOD Analysis of the 164 patients with GAD participating in the Harvard Anxiety Research Program . Patients were assessed with a structured clinical interview at intake and re-examined at six month intervals for two years and then annually for one to two years .  Psychiatric Status Ratings were assigned at each interview point . Kaplan-Meier curves were constructed to assess likelihood of remission . RESULTS Comorbidity was high , with panic disorder and social phobia as the most frequently found comorbid disorders . The likelihood of remission was 0.15 after one year and 0.25 after two years . The probability of becoming asymptomatic from all psychiatric symptoms was only 0.08 . CONCLUSIONS This prospect i ve study confirms the chronicity associated with GAD and extends this finding to define the one and two year remission rates for the disorder . Likelihood of remission for GAD and any other comorbid condition after one year was half the annual remission rate for GAD alone
Psychological therapy based on CBT principles is effective in reducing anxiety symptoms for short-term treatment of GAD .
The body of evidence comparing CBT with other psychological therapies is small and heterogeneous , which precludes drawing conclusions about which psychological therapy is more effective .
BACKGROUND Generalised anxiety disorder ( GAD ) is a highly prevalent condition , characterised by excessive worry or anxiety about everyday events and problems .
The effectiveness and effectiveness of psychological therapies as a group has not yet been evaluated in the treatment of GAD .
OBJECTIVES To examine the efficacy and acceptability of psychological therapies , categorised as cognitive behavioural therapy ( CBT ) , psychodynamic therapy and supportive therapy , compared with treatment as usual/waiting list ( TAU/WL ) and compared with one another , for patients with GAD .