[Comorbidity in generalized anxiety disorder: prevalence and course after cognitive-behavioural therapy].

Publication Type:

Journal Article

Authors:

Martin D Provencher; Ladouceur, Robert; Dugas, Michel J

Source:

Can J Psychiatry, Volume 51, Issue 2, p.91-9 (2006)

Keywords:

Adult, Anxiety Disorders, Cognitive Therapy, Comorbidity, Depressive Disorder, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Female, Humans, Male, Phobic Disorders, Prevalence, Severity of Illness Index, Surveys and Questionnaires, Time Factors, Treatment Outcome

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence and course of Axis I concurrent disorders in a population of patients who underwent cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) to treat their generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).METHOD: This study is a secondary analysis combining patients from 3 treatment studies done at Université Laval. A total of 90 patients with a DSM-IV consistent GAD diagnosis received from 12 to 16 CBT sessions to treat GAD. Symptomatology was assessed at pretest, posttest, and 6 months after treatment, with the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule, a structured diagnostic interview.RESULTS: Seventy-three per cent of patients had both GAD and a concurrent diagnosis. The most common diagnoses were simple phobia, social phobia, panic disorder, and major depression. CBT applied to GAD decreases the number of concurrent diagnoses. A panic disorder or a greater number of concurrent diagnoses at pretest is associated with a less efficient treatment at follow-up 6 months later.CONCLUSION: Patients with GAD have a high comorbidity rate with other Axis I disorders, but these significantly decrease after a short CBT aimed at GAD. Implications for GAD treatment and mechanisms that might explain these findings are discussed.