Abstract
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by excessive anxiety and worry that is difficult to control; but methods of thought control among persons with GAD have not been previously investigated. Forty-two patients with GAD and 55 non-anxious controls (NACs) completed the Thought Control Questionnaire (TCQ; A. Wells & M. I. Davies, 1994). Patients with GAD reported significantly greater use of worry and punishment strategies, and less use of distraction and social control strategies, than NACs. Further, worry and punishment strategies were positively correlated with depressive symptoms and excessive worry, while distraction and social control strategies were negatively correlated with these measures of psychopathology. Higher life satisfaction was associated with greater use of distraction and social control strategies, and lesser use of worry and punishment strategies.
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Coles, M.E., Heimberg, R.G. Thought Control Strategies in Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Cogn Ther Res 29, 47–56 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-005-1647-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-005-1647-x