Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2025
Reducing State Anxiety Using Working Memory Maintenance
Published on: July 19, 2017
Mechanisms of improvement in generalized anxiety disorder: A mediation and moderated mediation analysis from a
Marianna de Abreu Costa1,2, Tamara A Russell3,4, Natan Pereira Gosmann1,2,5
1Anxiety Disorders Outpatient Program (PROTAN), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Background:
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is associated with the lowest treatment response rate among all anxiety disorders. Understanding mechanisms of improvement may help to develop more effective and personalized treatments.
Aim:
The objective of the study was to investigate different improvement mechanisms in the treatment of individuals diagnosed with GAD.
Design:
We reported data from a randomized controlled trial that evaluated three different GAD treatments (mindfulness-based intervention, BMT; fluoxetine, FLX; and an active comparison group, QoL) for 8 weeks.
Method:
Mediation analyses were performed evaluating the association between worry symptoms at baseline and anxiety scoring at the endpoint, considering self-compassion or mindfulness or its dimensions at mid-treatment as mediators for the whole sample (assessing GAD improvement mechanism) and the different interventions as moderators.
Results:
Contrary to mindfulness state scoring (C = .06; 95% CI = -.05 to .20), self-compassion (C = .11; 95% CI = .01 to .28) and non-judgement of inner experience (C = .10; 95% CI = .004 to .21) mediated the association between worry symptoms at baseline and anxiety at the endpoint. When comparing BMT to FLX, the intervention modality did not moderate these associations.
Conclusion:
Self-compassion and non-judgement of inner experience seem to be essential targets in GAD treatment, contrary to the mindfulness state itself. Although no difference was found considering the intervention modality, future research may assess how to boost these dimensions in specific treatments for GAD.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Generalized Anxiety Disorder
01:22Behavior Therapy
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...
01:54The Placebo Effect
02:40The Scientific Method
01:25Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques III
The Role of Exercise in Stress Management
Regular physical activity is essential for reducing stress and promoting cardiovascular health. Exercise strengthens the heart, enhances blood flow, keeps blood vessels flexible, and helps lower blood pressure, all of which reduce the body's stress response. Research shows that adults who exercise regularly have nearly half the...
01:26Anxiolytic Drugs: Overview
Primary Types of Anxiolytic Drugs
1. Benzodiazepines:
Benzodiazepines bind to the GABA-A receptor in the brain, enhancing GABA's interaction. This action reduces neurotransmission, effectively blocking anxiety-associated limbic...