Mediating role of emotional schemas in the relationship between childhood traumas and generalized anxiety disorder

The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediator role of emotional schemas in the relationship between childhood traumas and Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

Subjects in this cross-sectional descriptive study, were 350 patients referring to Isfahan counseling centers (194 males and 156 females) which were selected by available sampling method. In this study, the structured interview for the first and second axis disorders, Leahy Emotional Schema Scale, generalized anxiety disorder scale- 7 item and Childhood trauma Inventory was used.

The results showed that non-adaptive emotional schemas significantly mediate the relationship between childhood traumas (neglect and abuse) and generalized anxiety disorder but adaptive emotional schemas are not mediators of any aspect of childhood traumas with generalized anxiety disorder.

The present study suggests that the role of mediator of emotional schemas in the study of the relationship between Generalized Anxiety Disorder and childhood traumas should not be ignored.