Cognitive-behavioral therapy for generalized anxiety

Abstract

As a form of therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is more than a mere “toolbox.” CBT allows us to better understand how the human mind is functioning because it is based on neuroscience and experimental and scientific psychology. At the beginning, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) was “nontheoretical,” but nowadays (the most recent version being DSM-5), it is increasingly based on CBT paradigms (with the insertion of important notions such as cognitions and behaviors). This Brief Report presents what we currently know about generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and how we can treat this condition by nonpharmaceutical means. In the last few years, GAD theories have evolved, becoming more precise about the cognitive functioning of GAD sufferers. Here, we look at current theoretical models and the main techniques of therapeutic care, as well as the advances in research about the “transdiagnostic” process and GAD in childhood. CBT is an effective treatment for GAD, typically leading to reductions in worry, and a study has shown that such therapy is equal to pharmaceutical treatment and more effective 6 months after study completion.

Current theoretical foundations

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) has been regarded as a primary diagnosis since 1987 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, third revision [DSM-III-R]). Previously, GAD had been considered an “anxiety neurosis.” Its specification as a singular disorder has allowed the recognition of factors common to anxiety disorders, for example, anxious anticipation, cognitive biases, and excessive concern. Additionally, GAD has specific factors that are not shared with other anxiety disorders, such as intolerance of uncertainty, and excessive concerns in several important areas. It is therefore a diagnosis whose conceptualization has much evolved over the last 2 decades, and recent studies on the subject suggest that the individualization of GAD will continue into the future.¹

Nowadays, DSM-5 ² defines GAD as “the presence of excessive anxiety and worry about a variety of topics, events, or activities. Worry occurs more often than not for at least 6 months and is clearly excessive.” People suffering from GAD have great difficulty in controlling these worries. They may also present with edginess or restlessness, difficulty sleeping, difficulty concentrating, and an increase in muscle aches or soreness. GAD sufferers are generally burdened by the significant consequences the disorder has on their relationships or on their functioning.

In CBT, evaluation is crucial. Professionals rely on their clinical judgment, but they will also use standardized assessment tools to evaluate symptoms. ^3-7 Excessive worry is the main symptom in GAD. Anxiety is almost always present in the minds of patients. The themes of concern are relatively similar to those of the normal population but are experienced in more catastrophic ways. The surrounding world is perceived with apprehension, vigilance, and pessimism (chronic feeling of insecurity, loss of contact with the experiential).

The search for reassurance is the second core element. Anxiety levels are therefore higher than in the normal population, but they are less intense and more diffuse than in a panic disorder, for example (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Difference of emotion intensity evolution over time in panic disorder versus generalized anxiety disorder. GAD, generalized anxiety disorder.

GAD affects approximately 6% of the general population in France if one considers the entire lifespan.⁷ The disorder is common and disabling. A recent review of epidemiological studies in Europe suggests a 12-month prevalence of between 1.7% and 3.75% (being more common in old age), and the associated functional impairment is similar to that observed with major depression.⁸ Comorbidities may be frequent. Indeed, 66.3% of patients present with at least one concomitant psychopathology⁹; in 60% of cases, major depression or another anxious disorder is present¹⁰; and 90% of GAD sufferers are suspected to have a secondary anxious disorder, such as social anxiety or panic disorder.¹¹

Concerns described in GAD are considered as a succession of thoughts in verbal or pictorial form^12-14 and not as a feeling. The emotion of anxiety will be the consequence of these worries and concerns. For instance, one might think “if I get sick, I will not be able to work anymore, I can lose my job and cannot support my family, we will find ourselves on the street...” and so on.

In order to understand the pathology, cognitive psychology attempts to represent the functioning of each disorder through models. Here, we describe two of these: Barlow's model and the model of intolerance of uncertainty.

Barlow's model¹⁵ describes a biological and psychological vulnerability to the negative elements of life. Focusing attention on potential threats fosters this vulnerability and promotes a perceived inability to control life events. Concerns have also been addressed as a way to avoid a stronger emotion. This is important from a therapeutic point of view. It explains how the disorder can maintain itself over time (maintaining factors) and which therapeutic techniques could be applied.

The model of intolerance of uncertainty^16-18 is also very important. The point here is to understand that it is thought that anxiety is related to the difficulty to tolerate doubt about future events and possible negative consequences. However, why then don't people who realize that nothing bad happens end up worrying less? This could be explained by the creation of “false beliefs” or “positive beliefs” about worries. Indeed, worry is a cognitive attempt to generate ways to prevent bad events from happening and/or to prepare oneself for their occurrence. In addition, the goal of not feeling the “full” emotion is reached. Patients do not question their beliefs because they are happy that everything goes well. This is explained in the avoidance model of worry.^19-20 That model also explains that in each situation, people seek to eliminate an unpleasant thought, emotion, or memory. Most often, this leads to the anxious thought ending up at the center of their attention. In addition, anxiety promotes the avoidance of mental images that are associated with greater negative emotion. Thinking about what could happen makes it possible to not suffer from emotional images that are more emotionally intense.²¹ Safety behaviors are then set up (frequent calls to check if everything goes well, hypervigilance about public announcement information, etc). So, whereas safety behaviors and cognitive avoidance will temporarily decrease anxiety, they will reinforce worries over time.

In summary, in the cognitive approach, worry can be used as a coping strategy because people believe in its usefulness. Indeed, some GAD sufferers affirm that it would not be normal if they didn't worry about their family or their jobs, or even that it would increase the risk that an accident would occur. Sometimes, magical thoughts are present and very resistant to change.

It is fundamental to explore and evaluate the beliefs about the function of concerns. They are powerful predisposing and maintaining factors. It is the same with patients' perception of their own emotions, which are often considered intolerable. They feel the need to suppress them as fast as they can (short-term strategy).^22-26

Practical interventions

CBT as treatment for GAD includes the development of a functional analysis, providing information through psychoeducation, experimentation with new behaviors and emotions (exposition, relaxation), and a cognitive approach.

Functional analysis

Functional analysis makes it possible to specify where, when, with what frequency, with what intensity, and under what circumstances the anxious response is triggered. It is performed with the patient and integrates the factors maintaining the difficulties. This functional analysis is crucial to the smooth running of therapy because it gradually introduces important notions of psychology. It makes it possible to visualize the mental functioning of the person, which is already therapeutic in and of itself.

Psychoeducation

Psychoeducation can easily be the next step. It is generally crucial because it makes it possible to understand what the future therapeutic tools will be and facilitates the increase in motivation to change. Patients begin to think in a different way about which behaviors could be the most useful.

The emotional and behavioral approach

The emotional and behavioral approach is generally favored. The therapist tries to teach relaxation in order to instruct how to create positive emotions, not to manage negative ones. There is a double effect as follows: (i) the provision of a “psychological tool” to prepare for exposition exercises; relaxation allows desensitization of anxiogenic situations; and (ii) a balancing of the general mood by adding “cognitive break times” in thoughts and worries.

The behavioral dimension of CBT is the most important. Patients will be able to expose themselves to their own emotions and so will be able to learn how to fight maintaining factors and avoidance behaviors that perpetuate the disorder. The cognitive process that is sought is habituation. It is the acceptance of thoughts as normal and nonblocking that initiates cognitive work. An example of mental exposition is the instruction “think the worst.” This strategy allows a rapid and effective reduction in avoidance. Exposure to anxiety allows patients to remain in the presence of images related to their possible concerns (disturbing images that are usually avoided), in order to encourage emotional habituation. Patients can learn to tolerate their fears, which will allow them to think less often and less intensely about their worries.

The cognitive approach

The cognitive approach often begins with a self-observation that patients will carry out on their own thoughts. Can the thoughts be spotted? Can patients isolate them from emotions? The aim of the cognitive work is to help patients take a step back from their automatic thoughts and to be disjointed from those worries. The third wave in CBT (mindfulness) adopted this principle to create its therapeutic program with a different form.

In a second step, therapy tends to modify the content of thoughts to reach a more objective evaluation of situations. The goal is to struggle against cognitive biases, such as overgeneralization or maximization of danger. A second evaluation of situations is possible by looking for objective indicators that allow relativizing. It is also possible to evaluate the consequences of worry and to understand subtle avoidance. The therapist tries to help patients to fully treat anxious anticipations, make them aware of danger patterns, and propose alternatives to catastrophism (overestimation of risk).²⁷

GAD in children and the transdiagnostic process

Children, too, can be worried in a pathological way. Anxieties are normal during development, but with poor emotional management they can become problematic. Always considering the “what if?” they ask a lot of questions to be sure and certain and sometimes they try to predict every possible scenario. Attentional focus on the threat appears to be a bias predisposing to GAD.^28,29 Prompt treatment would seem important to prevent this “cognitive habit” from becoming anchored because intolerance of uncertainty can be the “fuel” of anxiety.³⁰

Children with GAD show difficulty concentrating, and they are always thinking about what's next. They need reassurance and approval for small steps and avoid a lot of uncertain situations. They try to minimize risks. They can present with perfectionism, a great fear of making mistakes and a fear of criticism. They also show metacognitive bias by thinking that worries will prevent tragedies.

A child with GAD can look like he or she has depression, whereas the real problem is closer to inhibition and resignation. Psychological work with children and adolescents requires a lot of imagination. Clinicians always need to create educational support and adapt psychiatric classification to children.

Conclusion

CBT as a treatment for GAD has been established as an excellent way to change pathological worries into normal worries. A lot of research must still be done to improve therapeutic tools that facilitate distancing oneself from anxious thoughts. Current science has achieved a good understanding of psychological mechanisms in GAD, and further research in transdiagnostic fields may provide new approaches to GAD treatment.