CONTRIBUTIONS OF COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL THERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER IN ADULTS: INTEGRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to recognize the contributions of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in the treatment of symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) in the adult population, to identify the assessment instruments most used by standard CBT to determine the presence or severity of the disorder, and the techniques most frequently used in the treatment of GAD in adults. Method: An integrative literature review was carried out using the Virtual Health Library (BVS), PubMed, and Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) databases from the last 5 years. Results: Nine randomized clinical trials indicated that treatment with standard CBT is associated with a significant reduction in GAD symptoms. The analysis of the clinical trials showed that the assessment instruments most used by CBT to determine the presence or severity of GAD were: the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM (SCID), the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), and the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ). Psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, exposure and relaxation were the most commonly used CBT techniques in the treatment of GAD in adults. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that standard CBT contributes effectively to the treatment of GAD.