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Occupational functioning, sickness absence and medication utilization before and after cognitive-behaviour therapy
Michael Linden1, Doris Zubrägel, Thomas Bär
1Research Group Psychosomatic Rehabilitation, Charité University Medicine, Berlin and Department of Behavioural Medicine, Rehabilitation Centre Seehof, Teltow/Berlin, Germany. michael.linden@charite.de
Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy
|June 12, 2010
Summary
Cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT) effectively reduces generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) symptoms. Post-treatment, CBT also improves medication use and occupational functioning, demonstrating long-term efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Evidence-Based Practice
Background:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a prevalent mental health condition.
- Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is a recognized efficacious treatment for GAD symptom reduction.
- The long-term efficiency of CBT beyond symptom reduction remains an area of investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficiency of CBT for GAD.
- To assess enduring effects of CBT on medication use, psychotherapy utilization, occupational functioning, and sick leave.
- To determine if CBT leads to sustained improvements post-treatment.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 44 outpatients diagnosed with GAD.
- Participants received 25 sessions of CBT delivered by licensed therapists.
- Medication treatment, occupational functioning, and sick leave were assessed for 8 months pre- and post-treatment.
Main Results:
- Post-CBT, psychotropic medication use decreased from 46.5% to 7.2%.
- Sick leave days reduced from 3.1 to 1.1 days per month.
- Occupational role impairment dropped significantly from 70% pre-treatment to 5-20% post-treatment.
Conclusions:
- CBT demonstrates efficiency beyond symptom reduction in GAD.
- CBT leads to reduced inappropriate medication intake.
- CBT significantly improves occupational functioning in individuals with GAD.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a chronic condition characterized by excessive and uncontrollable worry that persists for at least six months, significantly interfering with daily functioning. Unlike situational anxiety, which arises in response to specific stressors, GAD often occurs without a clear cause. Individuals may experience disproportionate worry about work, health, or relationships. For instance, a person might continuously fear poor health despite normal medical evaluations or...
01:22Behavior Therapy
Behavior therapy incorporates diverse techniques rooted in classical conditioning principles to address maladaptive behaviors and anxiety disorders. These methods aim to reduce avoidance behaviors, foster adaptive coping mechanisms, and alter associations between stimuli and responses, making them effective in a wide range of therapeutic contexts.
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...
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01:18Anxiety: Overview
Anxiety is a common mental disorder featuring excessive worry, fear, and apprehension, significantly affecting daily life. People with anxiety disorders experience persistent and intense anxiety, interrupting their everyday functioning.
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
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01:29Anxiolytic Drugs: Benzodiazepines and Buspirone
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01:25Cognitive Therapy
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