In cooperation with the Icelandic Association of CBT

This workshop will help clinicians better understand and treat generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) by conceptualizing intolerance of uncertainty (IU) as the underlying theme of threat.

Standard CBT treatments for GAD have been shown to be less effective than those for other anxiety disorders. This may be due to a lack of a unifying theme of threat that adequately accounts for this disorder’s specific presentation. Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is a dispositional characteristic that results from a set of negative beliefs about uncertainty and its implications. A large body of literature has demonstrated a significant and specific relationship between IU and excessive worry. This has led to a new conceptualization of GAD that highlights the role of IU in the development and maintenance of excessive worry, which is the central feature of GAD. Individuals who are fearful of uncertainty may use worry to reduce uncertainty given that worry is a means of planning and preparing for possible negative outcomes. Therefore, pathological worry is driven by a fear of uncertainty. As a result, targeting IU in treatment can reduce GAD worry.

CBT-IU (cognitive-behavioural therapy with a focus on intolerance of uncertainty) focuses on helping individuals re-evaluate their negative beliefs about uncertainty and develop greater tolerance for uncertainty. By specifically targeting the underlying fear of uncertainty, we can enhance GAD treatments and improve treatment efficacy.

What you will learn:
· How to assess and diagnosis GAD
· The rationale behind CBT-IU and its application to the treatment of GAD
· How to conduct effective behavioural experiments specifically targeting the fear of uncertainty and challenging negative beliefs about uncertainty
· Complimentary CBT-IU treatment components
· Application of CBT-IU to other anxiety disorders

Topics covered:
· Phenomenology and presentation of GAD
· Assessment and diagnosis of GAD, including differential diagnosis
· Overview of the research on IU and its role in pathological worry and GAD
· Rationale for targeting IU and negative beliefs about uncertainty in the treatment of GAD
· GAD specific safety behaviours
· Conducting behavioural experiments targeting GAD-specific safety behaviours in order to re-evaluate negative beliefs about uncertainty and build tolerance for uncertainty
· Special application of behavioural experiments to address the role of uncertainty in decision making, as well as other anxiety disorders
· Additional CBT-IU treatment components: challenging positive beliefs about the usefulness of worry, addressing negative problem orientation, and written exposure to feared outcomes
· Relapse prevention

Who should enroll:
Psychologists, Counsellors/Therapists, Psychiatrists and other mental health professionals. Professionals at all levels will benefit from this workshop.

Instructor:
Dr. Kristin Buhr is a clinical psychologist and Director at the North Shore Stress and Anxiety Clinic (NSSAC) in North Vancouver, Canada. She specializes in the assessment and treatment of mood and anxiety issues in adolescents and adults. She is certified in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) by the Canadian Association of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies (CACBT-ACTCC). Dr. Buhr is a lead contributor and consultant for Anxiety Canada. She has developed numerous self-help resources on anxiety and has published scientic articles on generalized anxiety disorder and intolerance of uncertainty.