Cognitive behavioral therapy for generalized anxiety disorder
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a well-studied and validated psychotherapy treatment for GAD. In CBT, patients acquire skills to better cope with daily stress and help control their worry thoughts. Thoughts such as "I'm going to fail, " "I'm never going to be able to cope," or "My boss is going to fire me," often interfere with work performance and ability to solve problems at hand. Patients learn to evaluate these thoughts and develop more realistic, alternative perspectives. They also learn behavioral techniques to help decrease anxiety, such as progressive muscle relaxation and deep breathing. Stress management and time management are also important skills that can decrease anxiety. The ability to handle stress better and control worry thoughts will decrease overall anxiety, improve quality of sleep, concentration, productivity at work, and relationship with others.
The duration of CBT treatment of generalized anxiety disorder can range from 6-8 sessions to 20 or more sessions, depending on the presence of other presenting symptoms, such as depression or another anxiety disorder. The more motivated the person is in therapy, the better is the treatment progress.