An Open Trial of Integrative Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Newman, M. G., Castonguay, L. G., Borkovec, T. D., Fisher, A. J., & Nordberg, S. S. (2008). An open trial of integrative therapy for generalized anxiety disorder. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 45(2), 135-147. doi:10.1037/0033-3204.45.2.135

13 Pages Posted: 28 Jan 2015 Last revised: 8 May 2019

See all articles by Michelle G. Newman

Michelle G. Newman

Pennsylvania State University - Department of Psychology

Louis G. Castonguay

Pennsylvania State University - Department of Psychology

Thomas Borkovec

Pennsylvania State University

Aaron Fisher

University of California, Berkeley

Samuel Nordberg

Pennsylvania State University

Date Written: 2008

Abstract

Cognitive- behavioral therapy (CBT), although effective, has the lowest average effect size for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), when compared to effect sizes of CBT for other anxiety disorders. Additional basic and applied research suggests that although interpersonal processes and emotional avoidance may be maintaining GAD symptomatology, CBT has not sufficiently addressed interpersonal issues or emotion avoidance. This study aimed to test the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of an integrative psychotherapy, combining CBT with techniques to address interpersonal problems and emotional avoidance. Eighteen participants received 14 sessions of CBT plus interpersonal emotional processing therapy and three participants (for training and feasibility purposes) received 14 sessions of CBT plus supportive listening. Results showed that the integrative therapy significantly decreased GAD symptomatology, with maintenance of gains up to 1 year following treatment. In addition, comparisons with extant literature suggested that the effect size for this new GAD treatment was higher than the average effect size of CBT for GAD. Results also showed clinically significant change in GAD symptomatology and interpersonal problems with continued gains during the 1-year follow-up. Implications of these results are discussed.

Keywords: generalized anxiety disorder, GAD, psychotherapy, integrative therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, CBT, interpersonal problems, emotion regulation

Suggested Citation

Newman, Michelle G. and Castonguay, Louis G. and Borkovec, Thomas and Fisher, Aaron and Nordberg, Samuel, An Open Trial of Integrative Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (2008). Newman, M. G., Castonguay, L. G., Borkovec, T. D., Fisher, A. J., & Nordberg, S. S. (2008). An open trial of integrative therapy for generalized anxiety disorder. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 45(2), 135-147. doi:10.1037/0033-3204.45.2.135, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2556435

Michelle G. Newman (Contact Author)

Pennsylvania State University - Department of Psychology ( email )

University Park, PA
United States

Louis G. Castonguay

Pennsylvania State University - Department of Psychology ( email )

University Park, PA
United States

Thomas Borkovec

Pennsylvania State University ( email )

University Park
State College, PA 16802
United States

Aaron Fisher

University of California, Berkeley ( email )

310 Barrows Hall
Berkeley, CA 94720
United States

Samuel Nordberg

Pennsylvania State University ( email )

University Park
State College, PA 16802
United States

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