Investigate the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy based on Dugas' model on negative problem orientation and problem-solving in patients with generalized anxiety disorder

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is one of the most common anxiety disorders, and its treatment is very important. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) based on Dugas' model focuses on the causative agents of this disorder. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of CBT based on Dugas' model on negative problem orientation and problem-solving in patients with generalized anxiety disorder. 

In this study in 2020, 30 patients with GAD diagnosis were selected by multi-stage cluster method from psychological clinics in Isfahan, Iran. They were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group received 12 sessions of 90-minute CBT based on Dugas' model. Due to the drop in sample, 24 subjects in the pre-test and post-test stages fulfilled Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), Negative Problem Orientation Questionnaire (NPOQ), and Heppner Problem Solving Inventory (PSI). Finally, the results were analyzed using the SPSS-21 and multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). 

The results of MANCOVA showed that there was generally a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the variables of negative problem orientation and problem-solving (P< 0.01). 

Cognitive-behavioral therapy based on the Dugas' model, is effective in improving negative problem orientation and problem-solving in patients with generalized anxiety disorder.