Positive Emotion in Generalized Anxiety Disorder

2019 ◽  
pp. 297-311
Author(s):  
Ilana Seager ◽  
Douglas S. Mennin ◽  
Amelia Aldao
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Generalized Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Positive Emotion ◽  
Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Generalized Anxiety ◽  
Emotional Dysfunction ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Future Work

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a debilitating condition characterized by excessive, pervasive, uncontrollable, and paralyzing worries about a wide range of future situations. Individuals with this condition frequently find themselves stuck in worry and tension cycles in futile attempts at reducing uncertainty and increasing control. GAD has been associated with substantial impairments in functioning and reduced quality of life. GAD remains poorly understood, and the long-term efficacy and end-state functioning resulting from treatment are weaker compared to other anxiety disorders. Some treatments (e.g., emotion regulation therapy, acceptance-based behavioral therapy) have improved efficacy, partly by targeting emotional dysfunction. Basic psychopathology research has focused on identifying the role of negative affect in GAD, so little is known about how positive affect is experienced and regulated in this disorder. This is particularly important in light of the overlap of this condition with major depressive disorder, which is characterized by low or suppressed positive emotion. Developing such an understanding is essential to further improve the efficacy of emotion-based treatments. This chapter reviews current and future directions in the study of positive affect in GAD. The chapter reviews the nascent research on positive affect and GAD, then illustrates dimensions of future work.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Acute and Chronic Treatment

CNS Spectrums ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 716-723 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moira A. Rynn ◽  
Olga Brawman-Mintzer
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Generalized Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Medication Management ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Psychosocial Treatment ◽  
Generalized Anxiety ◽  
Treatment Refractory

AbstractClinical and epidemiological data suggest that generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a chronic illness causing patients to suffer for many years leading to significant distress in daily life functioning. The literature suggests the several conclusions. GAD is a disorder in need of appropriate treatment and often has a chronic course with comorbid conditions, such as major depression and other anxiety disorders. Benzodiazepines, while effective anxiolytic agents acutely, when prescribed for >4 weeks cause rebound anxiety and following prolonged therapy may lead to withdrawal symptoms. Antidepressants cause significant anxiety relief compared with placebo and for psychosocial treatment cognitive-behavioral therapy is an efficacious psychosocial treatment. Many GAD patients are in need of long-term medication management. Furthermore, there is limited data for patients diagnosed with GAD the treatment outcome with the combination of medication and psychotherapy both acutely and long-term; how to best sequence these treatments; for those patients who do not meet remission criteria what is the ideal approach for augmentation; and for patients with treatment-refractory GAD the empirical evidence is lacking on medication switching and augmentation strategies. Research is needed in the area of developing treatment strategies for patients suffering from treatment-refractory GAD. There is still an urgent need to explore treatment combinations and duration strategies in the management of patients suffering with GAD.

Long term therapy of generalized anxiety disorder

2004 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 96-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frédéric Rouillon
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Generalized Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Social Impact ◽  
Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Treatment Phase ◽  
Prolonged Treatment ◽  
Term Therapy ◽  
Generalized Anxiety ◽  
Intermittent Therapy

AbstractGeneralized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a common (lifetime prevalence: 5.1%), recurrent condition, which often heralds other psychiatric disorders, notably depression. As by definition it is a disorder progressing over months, treatment should be designed on a long term basis. And yet, few studies have been conducted beyond the classical 6–8 weeks characterizing the acute treatment phase. This is especially true of anxiolytics, but also of antidepressants, with the exception of paroxetine and venlafaxine, which are the only drugs approved in this indication in Western countries. The efficacy of psychotherapy, notably relaxation and cognitive-behavioral therapy, is established in the treatment of GAD, but its preferred indications and possible combination with antidepressants are still to be specified. Long term, not to say very long term studies of GAD, as well as depression, will still be required in the future to improve its management and specify therapeutic modalities (combination treatment, optimal duration, continuous or intermittent therapy, choice of psychotherapeutic techniques or agents, …). Early and adequately prolonged treatment should not only result in more numerous remission periods, but also in decreased frequency of co-morbidities whether depressive, addictive, or of another nature, and should also reduce the social impact of GAD.

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