Expanding our conceptualization of and treatment for generalized anxiety disorder: Integrating mindfulness/acceptance-based approaches with existing cognitive-behavioral models

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a chronic, pervasive disorder for which we have yet to develop sufficiently efficacious interventions. In this article we propose that recent research and theory regarding this disorder supports the integration of acceptance-based treatments with existing cognitive-behavioral treatments for GAD to improve the efficacy and clinical significance of such approaches. The bases for this proposal (from both the GAD and the acceptance-based treatment literature) are reviewed, and a new treatment stemming from this conceptual integration is described.