RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Theory and research suggest that generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is associated with diminished quality of life and restriction in valued action. The purpose of this study was to examine the relevance of values-consistent behavior (valued action) in understanding the impairment in quality of life in GAD. METHOD: Treatment-seeking clients with a principal diagnosis of GAD (n = 30) were compared with demographically matched nonanxious controls (n = 30) using self-report measures. RESULTS: Participants with GAD reported significantly less valued action compared with controls, and within the GAD group, diminished valued action was not fully explained by depression comorbidity. Valued action was significantly correlated with measures of experiential avoidance, distress about emotions, and quality of life. Further, consistent with a theoretical model of GAD, restrictions in valued action contributed unique variance to diminished quality of life over and above the contributions of gender, GAD severity, experiential avoidance, distress about emotions, and depression comorbidity. Finally, an acceptance-based behavioral therapy significantly improved self-reports of valued action for GAD clients with 40% achieving clinically significant change in this domain. CONCLUSION: The findings provide preliminary support for the relevance of valued action in understanding the functional impairment associated with GAD, and the beneficial effects of an acceptance-based behavior therapy in increasing valued action.
Assuntos
Transtornos de Ansiedade/psicologia , Qualidade de Vida/psicologia , Valores Sociais , Adaptação Psicológica , Transtornos de Ansiedade/diagnóstico , Transtornos de Ansiedade/terapia , Conscientização , Terapia Comportamental/métodos , Comorbidade , Transtorno Depressivo Maior/diagnóstico , Transtorno Depressivo Maior/psicologia , Transtorno Depressivo Maior/terapia , Feminino , Seguimentos , Humanos , Controle Interno-Externo , Masculino , Satisfação Pessoal , Inventário de PersonalidadeRESUMO
A variety of psychosocial stressors are involved in living with HIV, maintaining a regimen of highly active antiretroviral therapy, and negotiating necessary self-care behaviors. Because health care providers are in regular contact with HIV-infected individuals in care, these contacts allow for the opportunity to assess and intervene on important variables related to quality of life and HIV outcomes. This article reviews information about four important behavioral aspects of HIV care: treatment adherence, depression, high-risk sex, and substance abuse. Efforts by health care providers to address these factors may result in better treatment outcomes, enhanced quality of life among HIV patients, and decreased HIV transmission.
