Reports outline anxiety disorders prevention study results from D.H. Erickson et al
2007 OCT 22 -- Fresh data on anxiety disorders are presented in the report 'A cognitive-behavioral group for patients with various anxiety disorders.' "' Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) protocols for each of the anxiety disorders are robust and effective but are best suited for specialty clinics. This study assessed a format more suitable for general clinics: a single protocol based on standard CBT techniques designed to treat patients who have different anxiety disorders in the same group," scientists in New Westminster, Canada report. "Potential participants in Vancouver, British Columbia, were administered a structured clinical interview to identify those with major anxiety disorders: panic disorder, with or without agoraphobia; obsessive-compulsive disorder; social phobia; generalized anxiety disorder; specific phobia; and posttraumatic stress disorder. Forty-three percent of participants had more than one current anxiety diagnosis. Those with active substance abuse or dependence or with psychosis were excluded. A total of 152 patients were randomly assigned to immediate treatment in the 11-week CBT group or to a wait-list control group. The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) was administered at baseline, at the end of treatment or of the waiting period, and six months later. Reductions in BAI scores for participants in the immediate-treatment groups were greater than those for the control group participants. Patients with panic disorder in particular appeared to benefit. Outcomes for the immediate-treatment group were superior in terms of clinically significant changes, defined as a 20% or 40% improvement. Reductions in BAI scores continued to be present six months later. The improvements correspond to a medium effect size (Cohen's d=.50)," wrote D.H. Erickson and colleagues, . The researchers concluded: "A group CBT protocol for mixed anxiety disorders may make effective treatment more widely available." Erickson and colleagues published their study in Psychiatric Services (A cognitive-behavioral group for patients with various anxiety disorders. Psychiatric Services, 2007;58(9):1205-11). For additional information, contact D.H. Erickson, Royal Columbian Hospital, Dept. of Psychology, New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada. The publisher's contact information for the journal Psychiatric Services is: American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc., 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Ste. 1825, Arlington, VA 22209-3901, USA. Keywords: Canada, New Westminster, Anxiety Disorders Prevention, Anxiety Disorder, Mental Health, Phobic Disorder, Psychiatric, Psychiatry. This article was prepared by Mental Health Weekly Digest editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Mental Health Weekly Digest via NewsRx.com.
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