Within-day sudden gains and generalized anxiety disorder psychotherapy outcome.

ABSTRACT: According to dynamic systems theory, initial symptom instability is necessary for long-term stable change to occur from psychotherapy. Such instability may be assessed using within-day sudden gains (SGs), sudden losses (SLs), and reversals. The present study examined these symptom change patterns and their association with treatment outcome using intensive diary assessment across three psychotherapies for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). In a secondary analysis of Borkovec and Costello (1993), 59 clients diagnosed with GAD were randomly assigned to applied relaxation (AR; n = 21), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT; n = 20), or nondirective (ND) therapy (n = 18). Clients completed thrice daily anxiety ratings while receiving psychotherapy. The occurrence of SGs, SLs,

SUBMITTER: Newman MG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9428704 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature