A Comparison Between Cognitive, Behavioral, and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Condition: Generalized Anxiety Disorder
MeSH terms: Anxiety Disorders
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      This study will evaluate the effectiveness of three adaptive coping treatments in lessening
      anxiety in adults with generalized anxiety disorder.
    

Detailed description: 
      Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a common psychiatric disorder that affects nearly 6.8
      million adults in the United States. GAD is characterized by persistent feelings of worry and
      anxiety that remain even when there is little reason for concern. The excessive worry that
      people with GAD experience can be so extreme that carrying out activities of daily life
      becomes difficult. GAD is often accompanied by physical symptoms as well, including muscle
      aches, nausea, sweating, exhaustion, irritability, frequent urination, and shaking. People
      with GAD are also at a higher risk for other disorders, including depression and substance
      abuse, making early treatment of GAD important. Forms of psychotherapy that concentrate on
      stress management, relaxation techniques, and control of thoughts about anxiety-provoking
      situations may be effective treatments for people with GAD. This study will evaluate the
      effectiveness of three adaptive coping treatments, relaxation and self-control
      desensitization, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and a combination of the two, in
      lessening anxiety in adults with GAD.

      Participation in this study will last about 28 months. All participants will first complete
      three assessment sessions that will include an interview about anxiety symptoms and medical
      history, self-report questionnaires, and a physiological evaluation. After the first
      interview, participants will be asked to rate their level of anxiety four times a day in a
      diary. They will continue with these daily diary entries through the completion of treatment.
      Once participants complete the first 2 weeks' worth of daily ratings, participants will be
      assigned randomly to receive treatment with relaxation and self-control desensitization, CBT,
      or a combination of the two treatments. All participants will receive 14 weekly treatment
      sessions lasting between 1.5 and 2 hours each. During CBT sessions, participants will learn
      to identify ways in which they perceive themselves and the world and how to modify these
      thoughts to reduce anxiety. Applied relaxation and self-control desensitization sessions will
      teach participants relaxation techniques and the use of imagery for coping with anxiety.
      Between sessions, all participants will complete homework assignments that will involve
      practicing the approaches learned in sessions and continuing the daily diaries.

      Upon completion of treatment, participants will repeat the initial assessments. Follow-up
      visits will occur at Months 6, 12, and 24 after treatment completion and will include repeat
      interview and self-report sessions and completion of 1 week's worth of daily diary entries
      before each visit.
    

Intervention name(s): Applied relaxation and self-control desensitization; Cognitive therapy (CT); Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Other; Behavioral
Intervention description(s): Applied relaxation and self-control desensitization sessions will teach participants relaxation techniques and the use of imagery for coping with anxiety. Treatment will include 14 weekly sessions.; CT sessions will teach participants to identify ways in which they perceive themselves and the world and how to modify these thoughts to reduce anxiety. CT will include 14 weekly sessions.; Includes all of the techniques in the other 2 interventions.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Treatment