The Mindfulness and Emotional Dysregulation as Transdiagnostic Factors in Patient with Generalized Anxiety Disorder

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to compare mindfulness and emotional dysregulation between patients with GAD and healthy group. Research subjects included two groups that subjects of clinical group were patients (n=20) with GAD selected by purposive sampling methodfrom consecutive referees to psychiatric and psychological clinics of Tabriz. The control group (n=20) was selected among people who were accompanying the patients. All patients were asked to complete the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) and Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ). Data were analyzed by Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) and discriminant analysis. Results showed that There was a significant difference between patients with GAD and  healthy group in emotion regulation subscales (P<0/01). Also there was a significant difference between both groups in mindfulness. (P<0/01). Besides, Discriminant analysis indicated that low mindfulness and emotion dysregulation could correctly classified cases either GAD or healthy group. Overall, mindfulness and emotional dysregulation as two transdiagnostic factors probably have a role in development of GAD. Materials and Methods: Twenty patients with GAD were selected nonrandomly from consecutive referees to psychiatric and psychological clinics of Tabriz. The control group of 20 people was selected from patient’s accompanying. All patients were asked to complete the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) and Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ). Results: There is a significant difference (p < 0/01) between GAD with healthy group in emotion regulation total score and in all subscales. Also there is a significant difference (p < 0/05) between the GAD with healthy group in mindfulness. Discriminant analysis indicated that low mindfulness and emotion regulation difficulties could correctly classified cases either GAD or health group. Conclusion: Overall, mindfulness and emotional dysregulation as two transdiagnostic factors probably have a role in development of GAD.