Clinical and Theoretical Considerations of Psychoanalysts and Cognitive Behavioral Therapists Regarding Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Argentina. A Qualitative Study of the Research-Practice Gap.

ETCHEBARNE, IGNACIO; JUAN, SANTIAGO; GÓMEZ PENEDO, JUAN MARTÍN; ROUSSOS, ANDRES

Revista Brasileira de Psicoterapia

Centro de Estudios Luis Guedes

Año: 2016 vol. 18 p. 92 - 114

2318-0404

This paper presents two qualitative studies exploring the gap between research and practice, as related to Generalized Anxiety Disorder, by comparing the differing theoretical and clinical considerations of psychoanalysts and cognitive behavioral therapists from Buenos Aires.METHODS: In the first study, a group of ten expert Psychoanalysts and five expert Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists were asked to explicitly present their theoretical conceptualization of this disorder, based on the diagnostic criteria of the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. In the second study, twenty psychotherapists (ten from each theoretical orientation) were asked to listen to an audio recording of a fictional patient meeting GAD's diagnostic criteria, and to present their clinical impression about the case. Through qualitative analysis, categories were created and rated upon their frequency for both studies.RESULTS/DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Results showed similarities and differences in participants' theoretical and clinical conceptualizations and suggested that therapist orientations may pose differing implications and obstacles to breach the psychotherapy research-practice gap.