Well-Being Therapy of Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Abstract

Background: There is increasing awareness that the goal of treatment in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) should not simply be a response, but restoration of normal function. The aim of this study was to apply a novel psychotherapeutic approach for increasing the level of remission in GAD. Methods: Twenty patients with DSM-IV GAD devoid of comorbid conditions were randomly assigned to 8 sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or the sequential administration of 4 sessions of CBT followed by other 4 sessions of well-being therapy (WBT). Assessment methods included the Anxiety and Depression Scales of Paykel’s Clinical Interview for Depression, Ryff’s Psychological Well-being Scales and Kellner’s Symptom Questionnaire. A one-year follow-up was undertaken. Results: Significant advantages of the CBT-WBT sequential combination over CBT only were observed with both observer and self-rated methods after treatment. Such gains were maintained at follow-up. Conclusions: These preliminary results suggest the feasibility and clinical advantages of adding WBT to the treatment of GAD. They lend support to a sequential use of treatment components for achieving a more sustained recovery.

Well-Being and Generalized Anxiety in Japanese Undergraduates: A Prospective Cohort Study

“…Fava et al (2005) developed well-being therapy (WBT), which focused on enhancing psychological well-being (based on Ryff's conceptualization of the concept), and applied it to the treatment of GAD. Twenty patients with GAD were randomly assigned to eight sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or the sequential administration of four sessions of CBT followed by another four sessions of WBT.…”

“…Considering the preventive efficacy of WBT among patients with residual symptoms, one possible explanation PWB has a buffering effect on the relationship between cognitive vulnerabilities and generalized anxiety symptoms; that is anxiety symptom will not increase in people with high cognitive vulnerability when PWB is high. Fava et al (2005)suggests that higher levels of PWB may buffer against or moderate the negative influences of vulnerability on anxiety symptoms (Fava et al 2005). The relationship between PWB and generalized anxiety symptoms can be explained by the buffering hypothesis.…”

Well - Being Therapy (WBT) for Depression

“…Well-being therapy is one of the PPI strategies aimed at building strengths in clinical population recently developed by Giovanni Fava, an Italian psychotherapist with his colleagues ( Fava, Rafanelli, Grandi, Conti, & Belluardo, 1998;Fava, Rafanelli, Cazzaro, Conti, & Grandi, 1998a;Fava, 1999;Fava, et al, 2001;Fava & Ruini, 2003;Fava, et al, 2005;Giovanni, Fava, & Tomba, 2009). Well-being therapy is based on an educational model which is structured, directive, and oriented to present problems and situation (Fava, 1999;Fava & Ruini, 2003).…”

Enhancing well‐being and alleviating depressive symptoms with positive psychology interventions: a practice‐friendly meta‐analysis

“…Although PPIs may be an option for treating a variety of mental disorders (e.g., anxiety disorders; Fava et al, 2005), they can be particularly useful for addressing a paucity of positive affect, engagement, and life meaning that characterize depression (Forbes & Dahl, 2005;Seligman, Rashid, & Parks, 2006). For example, depressed individuals are likely to benefit from increases in positive emotions, which have been shown to speed recovery from the physiological effects of negative emotions (Fredrickson & Levenson, 1998;Tugade & Fredrickson, 2004), to improve broadminded coping skills (Fredrickson & Joiner, 2002), and to prevent relapses (Fava & Ruini, 2003).…”

“…Some studies have shown that positive psychotherapy, delivered to depressed individuals either in a group setting or individually, significantly boosts WB and decreases depression (Fava et al, 2005;Seligman et al, 2006). Other studies, however, have not found PPIs to be beneficial overall compared with no-treatment control or placebo groups (e.g., Della Porta, Sin, Froh, Sefick, & Emmons, 2008).…”