Clinical Psychology: Research and Practice Innovations

Clinical Psychology: Research and Practice Innovations"

The effectiveness of contextual schema therapy on anxiety symptoms and experiential avoidance in patients with generalized anxiety disorder

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Mehdi Rezaei
Department of Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran.
10.22075/jcp.2025.36142.3066
Abstract
Background: The aim of the present study was to determine the effectiveness of contextual schema therapy on anxiety symptoms and experiential avoidance in patients with generalized anxiety disorder.
Method: This quasi-experimental research employed a single-group pretest-posttest design with a two-month follow-up. The statistical population included all individuals with generalized anxiety disorder who had been referred to the counseling centers of the University of Birjand and Hamrh-E Hamishegi Clinic in Birjand from 2022 to 2024. The sample included 23 patients selected through purposive sampling. Participants received individual contextual schema therapy for 16 sessions (60 minutes). To collect data, The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment-7 (GAD-7), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire–II (AAQ-II) were used. The data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance and the Reliable Change Index (RCI).
Results: The results showed that contextual schema therapy reduces anxiety and experiential avoidance symptoms in patients with generalized anxiety disorder significantly (p< 0.05). The Reliable Change Index on anxiety and experiential avoidance symptoms was also significant. Finally, the improvement of symptoms during the follow-up was also significant (p< 0.05).
Conclusion: Contextual schema therapy is effective in reducing anxiety and experiential avoidance symptoms and can be used as a therapeutic approach in improving patients with generalized anxiety disorder.
Keywords
: Experiential avoidance
generalized anxiety disorder
anxiety
contextual schema therapy
Subjects

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  • Receive Date 07 December 2024
  • Revise Date 08 June 2025
  • Accept Date 08 June 2025
  • First Publish Date 03 June 2026
  • Publish Date 22 June 2026