Comparing The Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Focused on Intolerance of Uncertainty and Pharmacotherapy on Worry, Intolerance of Uncertainty, and Cognitive Avoidance in Patients With Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Objectives Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a highly prevalent distressing condition for individuals in both community and healthcare staff. In this regard, lack of effective psychological and medical treatments can impose a high cost on the family and society. Methods A total of 22 female patients with GAD after primary clinical evaluation and qualifying conditions were selected and divided into two therapeutic groups; first group CBT-IU (Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy focused on Intolerance of Uncertainty) (N=12) were selected through convenient sampling method, and second group pharmacotherapy (N=12) were selected through purposeful sampling method. The first group (CBT-IU) received 12 individual weekly treatment sessions and the second group under the supervision of a psychiatrist was treated with anti-anxiety medicines (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). All subjects completed the pretest and post-test questionnaires of Pennsylvania worry questionnaire, intolerance of uncertainty scale, and cognitive avoidance questionnaire. The obtained data were analyzed by repeated measures analysis of variance. Results Results showed that cognitive-behavioral therapy focused on intolerance of uncertainty, was more effective than pharmacotherapy on worry, intolerance of uncertainty, and cognitive avoidance.  Conclusion Since CBT-IU focuses on cognitive components (worry, intolerance of ambiguity and cognitive avoidance) and selected tools also measures most of the components associated with the intervention performed for this group,  the more effectiveness of this treatment on the studied variables is justified compared to pharmacotherapy. Due to the effect of CBT-IU on cognitive components of patients with GAD, these results have practical implications for clinicians involved in medical centers.