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 .
A randomized trial of the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy and supportive counseling for anxiety symptoms in older adults.
The authors used a r and omized trial to compare cognitive-behavioral therapy ( CBT ) and supportive counseling ( SC ) in the treatment of  anxiety symptoms in older adults who met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ( 4th ed . : American Psychiatric Association , 1994 ) criteria for anxiety disorders . Both conditions had a 6-week baseline no-treatment phase . Treatment was delivered primarily in patients ' own homes and in an individual format . Outcomes were assessed at posttreatment and at 3- , 6- , and 12-month follow-ups . There was no spontaneous improvement during the baseline phase . Both groups showed improvement on anxiety measures following treatment , with a better outcome for the CBT group on self-rating of anxiety and depression . Over the follow-up period , the CBT group maintained improvement and had significantly greater improvement than the SC group on anxiety and 1 depression measure . Treatment response for anxiety was also superior for the CBT group , although there was no difference between groups in endstate functioning
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 .