THE EFFECT OF GROUP-BASED EMOTIONAL SCHEMA THERAPY ON ANXIETY SENSITIVITY AND ANXIETY SEVERITY IN OUTPATIENT FEMALES WITH GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to examine the effectiveness of Group-Based Emotional Schema Therapy (GBEST) on anxiety sensitivity and anxiety severity decrease in females with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Methods: This was a double-blind randomized experimental study that was carried out with three pretest, posttest, and follow-up stages within an experimental group and the control group. The participants were 50 outpatient females with GAD that they recruited by a random sampling method in each group. The Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale (GAD-7) were used in this study. The experimental group was imposed on the GBEST in 10 sessions which were held weekly for 90 minutes; finally, the post-test was applied to both experimental and control groups and three months later, they were followed up. Results: Findings showed that the experimental group had a significant decrease in anxiety sensitivity and anxiety severity compared with the control group during the post-test and the follow-up stages. Conclusions: The GBEST is recommended for the treatment of anxiety sensitivity and anxiety severity in females with GAD.