Response to cognitive-behavioral psychotherapeutic treatment and mindfulness in a woman with generalized anxiety disorder

Abstract

Introduction: Generalized anxiety disorder has increased its frequency in our city since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. There are a small number of patients who do not wish to be treated pharmacologically

Objective: Comment on the efficacy of mindfulness-enriched cognitive behavioral treatment in a woman with generalized anxiety disorder and insomnia who did not want to receive pharmacological management

Presentation of the case: A 60-year-old woman, with a history of anxiety, did not wish to receive drug therapy and requested psychological support due to fatigue, frequent headaches, palpitations, irritable bowel, memory problems, poor concentration and insomnia. A diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder was made and the psychological assessment was made with the following instruments: inventory of automatic thoughts by Ruiz and Lujan, the Oviedo del Sueño questionnaire and the IDARE anxiety scale before and after a cognitive-behavioral intervention enriched with mindfulness.

Conclusions: The level of state anxiety decreased from high to moderate and that of trait anxiety from high to mild, sleep problems went from high to medium level, and the frequency of cognitive distortions decreased. The intervention made it possible to identify and treat cognitive distortions, modify poor sleep hygiene habits, and promoted the acquisition of problem-solving skills.