Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/28731
Title: | Maladaptive Behaviours Associated with Generalized Anxiety Disorder: An Item Response Theory Analysis | Contributor(s): | Mahoney, Alison E J (author) ; Hobbs, Megan J (author) ; Newby, Jill M (author); Williams, Alishia D (author); Andrews, Gavin (author) | Publication Date: | 2018-07 | Early Online Version: | 2018-03-19 | DOI: | 10.1017/S1352465818000127 | Handle Link: | https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/28731 | Abstract: | Background: Cognitive models of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) suggest that maladaptive behaviours may contribute to the maintenance of the disorder; however, little research has concentrated on identifying and measuring these behaviours. To address this gap, the Worry Behaviors Inventory (WBI) was developed and has been evaluated within a classical test theory (CTT) approach. Aims: As CTT is limited in several important respects, this study examined the psychometric properties of the WBI using an Item Response Theory approach. Method: A large sample of adults commencing treatment for their symptoms of GAD (n = 537) completed the WBI in addition to measures of GAD and depression symptom severity. Results: Patients with a probable diagnosis of GAD typically engaged in four or five maladaptive behaviours most or all of the time in an attempt to prevent, control or avoid worrying about everyday concerns. The two-factor structure of the WBI was confirmed, and the WBI scales demonstrated good reliability across a broad range of the respective scales. Together with previous findings, our results suggested that hypervigilance and checking behaviours, as well as avoidance of saying or doing things that are worrisome, were the most relevant maladaptive behaviours associated with GAD, and discriminated well between adults with low, moderate and high degrees of the respective WBI scales. Conclusions: Our results support the importance of maladaptive behaviours to GAD and the utility of the WBI to index these behaviours. Ramifications for the classification, theoretical conceptualization and treatment of GAD are discussed. | Publication Type: | Journal Article | Grant Details: | NHMRC/1033787 | Source of Publication: | Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 46(4), p. 479-496 | Publisher: | Cambridge University Press | Place of Publication: | United Kingdom | ISSN: | 1469-1833 1352-4658 |
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: | 110319 Psychiatry (incl. Psychotherapy) 111714 Mental Health 170109 Personality, Abilities and Assessment |
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: | 320221 Psychiatry (incl. psychotherapy) 520503 Personality and individual differences |
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: | 920410 Mental Health 920204 Evaluation of Health Outcomes |
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: | 200409 Mental health 200202 Evaluation of health outcomes |
Peer Reviewed: | Yes | HERDC Category Description: | C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal |
---|---|
Appears in Collections: | Journal Article |
Files in This Item:
File | Size | Format |
---|
Items in Research UNE are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.