Open AccessCognitive-behavioral therapy augmentation of SSRI reduces cortisol levels in older adults with generalized anxiety disorder: A randomized clinical trial.
Author(s) -
Christopher B. Rosnick,
Julie Loebach Wetherell,
Kamila S. White,
Carmen Andreescu,
David Dixon,
Eric J. Lenze
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of consulting and clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.582
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1939-2117
pISSN - 0022-006X
DOI - 10.1037/a0040113
Subject(s) - escitalopram , generalized anxiety disorder , psychology , randomized controlled trial , anxiety , cognitive behavioral therapy , anxiety disorder , psychiatry , population , clinical psychology , medicine , antidepressant , environmental health
Elevated cortisol in stress and aging, such as has been seen in late-life anxiety disorders, is postulated to accelerate cognitive and physiological decline in this large and increasing population. Selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) are both effective treatments for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in older adults. On the other hand, there is very little research examining the effect of combining these therapies on peak cortisol levels. For the current analyses, we examined the effectiveness of CBT augmentation on peak cortisol levels in older adults diagnosed with GAD.