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An Acceptance-Based Behavior Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder

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Acceptance and Mindfulness-Based Approaches to Anxiety

Part of the book series: Series in Anxiety and Related Disorders ((SARD))

Abstract

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a disorder characterized by chronic, pervasive, uncontrollable worry (as well as associated somatic complaints; American Psychiatric Association, 1994) for which we have yet to develop sufficiently successful interventions. The National Comorbidity Study yielded a lifetime prevalence estimate of 5.1% for GAD, and revealed, contrary to the common assumption that it is a mild disorder, that GAD is associated with significant psychosocial impairment (Wittchen, Zhao, Kessler, & Eaton, 1994). GAD is unlikely to remit on its own (Yonkers, Warshaw, Massion, & Keller, 1996) and remains more chronic than panic disorder after pharmacotherapy (Woodman, Noyes, Black, Schlosser, & Yagia, 1999). In addition, GAD is associated with high rates of comorbidity (most commonly other anxiety or mood disorders), and this comorbidity is associated with increased functional impairment (Wittchen et al., 1994) and health care utilization/cost (Souetre et al., 1994).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Massachusetts, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Lizabeth Roemer

  2. Suffolk University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Susan M. Orsillo

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  1. Lizabeth Roemer
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  1. Suffolk University, Boston, Massachusetts

    Susan M. Orsillo

  2. University of Massachusetts, Boston, Massachusetts

    Lizabeth Roemer

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Roemer, L., Orsillo, S.M. (2005). An Acceptance-Based Behavior Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder. In: Orsillo, S.M., Roemer, L. (eds) Acceptance and Mindfulness-Based Approaches to Anxiety. Series in Anxiety and Related Disorders. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-25989-9_9

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