Comparing the effectiveness of short-term cognitive intervention and acceptance and mindfulness-based intervention on cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control in patients with generalized anxiety disorder

Authors
neda barati kalhor
parvaneh sarkeshikzadeh
Mehri Azandriani
Fatemeh Ghasempour
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate and compare the effectiveness of two psychological interventions on cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control in patients with generalized anxiety disorder. The study was applied in terms of purpose and quasi-experimental in terms of design with pre-test, post-test, and control group. The statistical population included patients with generalized anxiety disorder referring to counseling and psychiatric centers in Tehran in 1404, and the research sample included 45 people who were selected using convenience sampling. Data were collected using the cognitive flexibility questionnaire and inhibitory control test, and analyses were performed with SPSS software version 27 at two descriptive and inferential levels using analysis of covariance. The results showed that both interventions significantly improved cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control, but the effect of the acceptance and mindfulness-based intervention on both variables was stronger and more prominent. The present findings can be a guide to selecting targeted and optimal interventions in the treatment of patients with generalized anxiety disorde
Keywords
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Cognitive Flexibility
inhibitory control
Brief Cognitive Intervention
Acceptance and Mindfulness
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