Group Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Treatment Outcome and Long-Term Follow-Up.
Dugas, Michel J. 1,2,5; Ladouceur, Robert 3; Leger, Eliane 3; Freeston, Mark H. 4; Langlois, Fredric 3; Provencher, Martin D. 3; Boisvert, Jean-Marie 3
[Report] Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology. 71(4):821-825, August 2003.

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A recently developed cognitive-behavioral treatment for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) targets intolerance of uncertainty by the reevaluation of positive beliefs about worry, problem-solving training, and cognitive exposure. As previous studies have established the treatment's efficacy when delivered individually, the present study tests the treatment in a group format as a way to enhance its cost-benefit ratio. A total of 52 GAD patients received 14 sessions of cognitive-behavioral therapy in small groups of 4 to 6 participants. A wait-list control design was used, and standardized clinician ratings and self-report questionnaires assessed GAD symptoms, intolerance of uncertainty, anxiety, depression, and social adjustment. Results show that the treatment group, relative to the wait-list group, had greater posttest improvement on all dependent variables and that treated participants made further gains over the 2-year follow-up phase of the study.

(C) 2003 by the American Psychological Association