Efficacy of uncertainty tolerance training based on cognitive behavioral therapy on generalized anxiety disorder

Aim: This study was carried out in order to examine the efficacy of tolerance of uncertainty training based on cognitive-behavioral therapy (Dugas, 2007) on worry and intolerance of uncertainty in the treatment of individuals with generalized anxiety disorder.
This study was quasi- experimental with pre-test and post-test analysis and control group and the statistical population included 48 patients with generalized anxiety disorder referred to Akhavan Private Clinic in Tehran in 2013. Eghiteen patients who suffered from GAD only, were selected according to availability and were selected none randomly using structured clinical interview (Spitzer, Gibbon & Williams, 1996). Once selected, patients were randomly placed into an experimental and a control group and completed the Penn state worry questionnaire (Meyer, Miller, Metzger & Borkovec, 1990), as well as the intolerance of uncertainty scale (Freeston, Rheauma, Litarte, Dugas & Ladouceur, 1994) in pre-test, post-test and follow up. The training program was carried out with the experimental group for nine weekly sessions of ninety- minute duration each.
Results of this research showed that the means of worry and intolerance of uncertainty in the experimental group, in post-test and follow-up period were reduced significantly in comparison with the control group.
Tolerance of uncertainty training based on cognitive behavioral therapy has appropriate efficacy in the treatment of individuals with generalized anxiety disorder.