Psychological treatment

Abstract

Despite the body of evidence showing the disability associated with GAD there are still many who do not recognise that GAD is a serious, dangerous and impairing disorder and who prefer to believe that right living, right thinking and exercise are the answer. Formal investigation of the possible efficacy of these types of intervention has not been undertaken in adequately controlled trials that take account of confounding variables such as the halo effects of enthusiasts. In a climate of cost cutting there is a risk that alternative approaches such as self-help manuals, counselling and exercise are promoted in order to save money on drug budgets without appropriate critical reference to the quality of the evidence base.