Effect of Acceptance-Based Behavior Therapy on Severity of Symptoms, Worry and Quality of Life in Women With Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Objective: Acceptance-based behavior therapy (ABBT) is a new psychotherapy for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The current study intended to compare severity of symptoms, worry and quality of life of GAD female patients between ABBT and control.

Methods: This study was a randomized clinical trial. The sample included 18 women with GAD referred to psychiatrists in Isfahan, Iran. Patients were assigned in 2 groups randomly (ABBT and control group without any psychotherapy). Both groups received medication. The intervention in ABBT group was conducted based on Roemer & Orsillo's manual for Acceptance-based Behavior Therapy for GAD. 12 therapeutic sessions administered in Shariati psychiatric clinic of Isfahan. The instruments included the GAD-7 Inventory, Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) and Short Form Health Survey -12 revised Version (SF-12V2). The data were analyzed using the Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANCOVA).

Results: Overall, clients receiving ABBT compared to control group reported a significantly decrease in severity of GAD symptoms, and improve in quality of life at post- treatment state. They reported decrease in severity of worry but it was not statistically significant compared to control group.

Conclusion: ABBT was effective in alleviating symptoms of GAD.

Declaration of Interest: This study was funded by the Mental Health Research Center and Tehran Psychiatric Institute.

Clinical trial registration number: IRCT201108057227N1

Citation: Zargar F, Asgharnejad Farid AA, Atef-Vahid MK, Afshar H, Maroofi M, Omranifard V. Effect of acceptance-based behavior therapy on severity of symptoms, worry and quality of life in women with generalized anxiety disorder. Iran J Psychiatry Behav Sci 2012; 6 (2): 23-32.