Abstract
Although cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) is an efficacious treatment for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in younger adults, little is known about its efficacy in older patients. Investigations to date have tested group-format or otherwise nonstandard versions of CBT. The studies described here are, to our knowledge, the first to test the efficacy of individual-format CBT administered in a mental health clinic for treatment of late-life GAD. Study 1 tested a standard version, and Study 2 tested an enhanced version (ECBT) that included learning and memory aids designed to make the therapy more effective with elderly patients (e.g., homework reminder and troubleshooting calls, weekly review of all concepts and techniques). Study 1 CBT participants showed significant improvement on GAD severity ratings. Study 2 ECBT participants showed significant improvement on two self-report measures, rates of posttreatment GAD, and GAD severity ratings. ECBT resulted in improvement on more measures and yielded larger effect sizes than standard CBT, when each was compared against a wait-list control group. Results of these pilot studies suggest that standard individual-format CBT may not be optimally effective for treating late-life GAD; thus, ECBT should be tested further in randomized trials.
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