Comparing the Effectiveness of Modular Cognitive-‎Behavioral Therapy, ‎‏‏Pharmacotherapy (Paroxetine), and Their Combination in Intolerance of Uncertainty and Meta-Worry‎ among Female University Students with Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Kaveiy, Mahdieh; Toozandejani, Hassan; Taher, Mahboobeh; Zendehdel, Ahmad

doi:10.30483/rijm.2023.254446.1263

Comparing the Effectiveness of Modular Cognitive-‎Behavioral Therapy, ‎‏‏Pharmacotherapy (Paroxetine), and Their Combination in Intolerance of Uncertainty and Meta-Worry‎ among Female University Students with Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Shahrood Branch, ‎Islamic Azad University, Shahrood, Iran

² Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Neyshabur Branch, Islamic ‎Azad University, Neyshabur, Iran‎

³ Department of Psychology, Shahrood branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrood, Iran‎

10.30483/rijm.2023.254446.1263

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy and modular cognitive-behavioral therapy, ‎‏‏as well as their combination, in intolerance of uncertainty and meta-worry‎ among female university students with generalized anxiety disorder.

Objectives: Paying attention to psychological, cognitive-behavioral and biological dimensions in patients with generalization anxiety disorder causes continuity of therapeutic effects.

Methods: The present study was a ‎semi-experimental ‎research. The statistical population comprised all female students of the Islamic Azad University of Mashhad, of which 60 people were selected by a convenience sampling method and were randomly assigned to three experimental groups and one control group. All groups were initially pretested; afterward, the first experimental group received modular cognitive-behavioral therapy during ten 90-minute sessions; the second experimental group received pharmacotherapy and one daily dose of paroxetine; and the third experimental group received combination therapy; however, the control group was placed on the waiting list. At the end of the treatment period and three months thereafter, the participants were given a post-test and a follow-up test. The required data were collected through questionnaires, namely Freeston Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale and Wells Anxious Thoughts Inventory. The data were analyzed in SPSS-24 software using the repeated measures analysis of variance.

Results: The results demonstrated that all three therapeutic approaches compared to the control group were effective in reducing intolerance of uncertainty and meta-worry. However, the combination therapy was significantly superior to any of the two treatment approaches alone (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Considering the biological and psychological underpinnings of generalized anxiety disorder, the combination of psychological and drug therapies seems to be a more effective approach to improving anxiety states.

Keywords

Open Access Policy: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Comparing the Effectiveness of Modular Cognitive-‎Behavioral Therapy, ‎‏‏Pharmacotherapy (Paroxetine), and Their Combination in Intolerance of Uncertainty and Meta-Worry‎ among Female University Students with Generalized Anxiety Disorder

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Volume 11, Issue 1
February 2023
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Comparing the Effectiveness of Modular Cognitive-‎Behavioral Therapy, ‎‏‏Pharmacotherapy (Paroxetine), and Their Combination in Intolerance of Uncertainty and Meta-Worry‎ among Female University Students with Generalized Anxiety Disorder

References

Volume 11, Issue 1February 2023Pages 46-56

Files

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How to cite

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Volume 11, Issue 1
February 2023
Pages 46-56