An interventional study of Solution-Focused Therapy in Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), sponsored by International Islamic University, Islamabad. Recruiting at 1 site in Pakistan. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 29 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-01.
Sponsored by International Islamic University, Islamabad · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
This study will evaluate whether Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT) helps reduce symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) in emerging adults in Pakistan. Participants will first be screened to identify those with mild to moderate levels of GAD. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to receive either SFT or be placed on a waitlist. The researcher will measure changes in anxiety symptoms before and after the intervention to determine whether SFT is effective for emerging adults with GAD in Pakistan.
Anxiety disorders are common worldwide, and anxiety and stress symptoms are particularly prevalent among university students in Pakistan. Emerging adulthood is a critical developmental period characterized by significant transitions, identity exploration, and heightened stress, during which Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) can emerge. GAD is characterized by excessive and persistent anxiety and worry related to different areas of life, including work, family, health, or finances. Although conventional psychological therapies are available for such mental health problems, they can be time-consuming and costly. Therefore, shorter and effective psychological interventions are needed. Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT) has been supported by research as an approach in which fewer sessions may be sufficient for improving psychological symptoms. However, there is limited literature on the effectiveness of SFT for emerging adults with anxiety disorders in Pakistan, and the intervention has not been culturally validated for Pakistani emerging adults with GAD.
This study aims to examine the effectiveness of Solution-Focused Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder in emerging adults in Pakistan. The study will use a randomized controlled trial design. Emerging adults aged 18-29 years will first be screened using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) Scale to identify participants with mild to moderate levels of GAD. Eligible participants will then be randomly assigned to a treatment group receiving SFT or a waitlist control group. The SFT intervention will be applied to participants with GAD to examine its effectiveness in reducing their anxiety symptoms.
The study will assess changes in GAD symptoms before and after the intervention to determine the effectiveness of SFT among emerging adults with GAD in Pakistan. It is expected that participants receiving SFT will show a decline in GAD symptoms compared with the waitlist control group. The study will provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of a brief and culturally relevant SFT intervention for emerging adults with GAD in the Pakistani context.
Inclusion Criteria: Participants with mild to moderate scores of generalized anxiety disorder upon baseline assessment will be included in the study.
Exclusion Criteria: Individuals will be excluded if they reported a diagnosis of psychotic disorder, and those receiving psychotherapy or counseling for anxiety.
Participants in the intervention group will receive Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT) for mild to moderate Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
Behavioral: Solution-Focused Therapy
Participants in the control group will not receive Solution-Focused Brief Therapy during the active trial period and will instead be assigned to a waitlist condition.
Participants in intervention group will receive Solution-Focused Therapy. The program includes approximately 6-8 individual sessions (45-60 minutes) covering goal-setting, exception-finding, scaling questions, the miracle question, identification of existing strengths and resources, and construction of solution-focused action steps.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7)
The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale assesses severity of anxiety symptoms. Total scores range from 0 to 21. Higher scores indicate more severe anxiety symptoms.
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8
Depression Anxiety Stress Scales - Short Form (DASS-21)
The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales - Short Form (DASS-21) measures emotional distress. The total score ranges from 0 to 63 (combining depression, anxiety, and stress subscales). Higher scores indicate more severe emotional distress.
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8
Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale - Short Form (IUS-12)
The Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale - Short Form assesses reactions to ambiguous situations. Total scores range from 12 to 60. Higher scores indicate a greater intolerance of uncertainty.
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8
Negative Problem Orientation Questionnaire (NPOQ)
The Negative Problem Orientation Questionnaire (NPOQ) evaluates dysfunctional cognitive attitudes toward problem-solving. Total scores range from 12 to 60. Higher scores indicate a more negative problem orientation.
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8
Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale - Short Form (DERS-SF)
The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale - Short Form (DERS-SF) assesses emotion dysregulation. Total scores range from 18 to 90. Higher scores indicate greater difficulty in regulating emotions.
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8
Brief Resilience Scale
The Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) measures the ability to recover from stress. Total scores range from 6 to 30. Higher scores indicate greater resilience (a better outcome).
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8
Plan to share: No
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International Islamic University, Islamabad