The efficacy of emotion focused therapy on worry and self-criticism in individuals with generalized anxiety disorder

Improving the psychotherapies for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is dependent on a deeper understanding of the relations between symptoms and associated factors. According to the novelty of the emotion focused therapy (EFT) concept, background of literatures indicative the importance role of emotions and the efficacy of therapy in psychological disorders. But does EFT help effective reducing worry and self-criticism in individuals with GAD?

The aim of this study was performed to the efficacy of EFT on worry and self-criticism in individuals with GAD.

The present study was single case experimental design of non-concurrent multiple baseline. The statistical population of the study included individuals referred to one of the psychology clinics in tehran in 2020. 4 participant were selected by convenience sampling and during 16-20 sessions of EFT (Timulak & McElvany, 2018), were answered to worry pennsylvania questionnaire (Meyer, Miller, Metzger & Borkovec, 1990) and self-criticism (Gilbert, Clarke, Hempel, Miles & Irons, 2004). Data analysis was performed by visual inspection, percentage of non-overlapping data, reliable change index and clinically meaningful.

EFT reduced the variable of worry (%61/08 improvement percentage) and its effect was maintained until the end of the two-month follow-up period (%57/91 improvement percentage). As well as, therapy caused reduce the variable of self-criticism (%83/19 improvement percentage) and the effect of which was maintained until the end of the follow-up period (%79/72 improvement percentage). Their change in reliable index these variables also indicated that these changes were significant (P<0/05).

According to results in present study about the efficacy of EFT on reduce worry and self-criticism, this issue arises that the therapy with change emotion and rebuilding unwanted emotional experiences, caused reduce symptoms and possible psychological problems in individuals with GAD.