Table 3.
Effect Sizes for the Comparisons of Study Sample Groups by SF-36 Physical and Mental Component Summary Scoresa
| Scale | General Populationb | Diabetesc | Hypertensionc | Recent Myocardial Infarctionc | Congestive Heart Failurec | Depressionc |
| Physical component summary score | ||||||
| GAD (n = 128) | 0.50 | –0.29 | –0.05 | –0.20 | –0.85 | 0.00 |
| GAD, no Axis I (n = 28) | 0.13 | –0.65 | –0.41 | –0.61 | −1.20 | –0.32 |
| GAD, no medical illnesses (n = 80) | 0.49 | –0.31 | –0.07 | –0.23 | –0.88 | –0.01 |
| GAD, no Axis I or medical illnesses (n = 20) | 0.38 | –0.42 | –0.17 | –0.35 | –0.98 | –0.10 |
| Mental component summary score | ||||||
| GAD (n = 128) | 1.48 | 1.71 | 1.78 | 1.72 | 1.39 | –0.03 |
| GAD, no Axis I (n = 28) | 1.07 | 1.31 | 1.38 | 1.42 | 1.01 | –0.37 |
| GAD, no medical illnesses (n = 80) | 1.49 | 1.75 | 1.83 | 1.83 | 1.42 | –0.02 |
| GAD, no Axis I or medical illnesses (n = 20) | 1.02 | 1.27 | 1.34 | 1.43 | 0.97 | –0.41 |
a
Effect size calculation: (mean of comparison group – mean of GAD group) ÷ pooled SD. Positive effect sizes indicate worse functioning in the GAD group than in the comparison group.
b
General population scores are from the 1990 National Survey of Functional Health Status.32
c
Comparison groups are samples of individuals with select major medical illnesses from the Medical Outcomes Study.31
Abbreviations: GAD = generalized anxiety disorder, SF-36 = Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey.