The Outcome of a Multidimensional Intervention Strategy for the Management of Generalized Anxiety Disorder in an Internal Medicine Setting

Anxiety disorders are very prevalent in the United States. The most common type, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), affects 6.8 million adults every year. GAD can cause significant deficits in a person’s ability to function, decrease their quality of life and increases a person’s risk of attempting suicide. The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project was to improve the outcomes of adults diagnosed with GAD in an internal medicine setting by implementing a protocol composed of a combination of interventions. A thorough literature search was conducted to find the best available evidence to support the project. A total of 11 pieces of evidence were used and the Johns Hopkins Appraisal Tool was used to grade the evidence. After a thorough review of the literature, it was concluded that best practice for the treatment of GAD was a combination of interventions that included verbal and written education, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), using an online application, and medication therapy. This protocol was implemented in an internal medicine office in Indianapolis, IN. A total of 12 participants completed the project. Their anxiety was measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) questionnaire at baseline, then at two, four and eight weeks after implementation. To analyze the data, a one-way ANOVA will be used to measure the effectiveness of the protocol. Further recommendations should focus on the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder in non-psychiatric care settings.