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NCT Number: NCT07798063

Effectiveness of Solution-Focused Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Emerging Adults

This study will evaluate whether Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT) helps reduce symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) in emerging adults in Pakistan. Participants will first be screened to identify those with mild to moderate levels of GAD. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to receive either SFT or be placed on a waitlist. The researcher will measure changes in anxiety symptoms before and after the intervention to determine whether SFT is effective for emerging adults with GAD in Pakistan.

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Key information

Conditions

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Anxiety Disorders Generalized Anxiety Disorder Mental Disorders

Age range

18 year–29 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI)

Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Dr Nazia Iqbal, Post-doc

CONTACT

[email protected]

+92-51-9019338

About this study

Anxiety disorders are common worldwide, and anxiety and stress symptoms are particularly prevalent among university students in Pakistan. Emerging adulthood is a critical developmental period characterized by significant transitions, identity exploration, and heightened stress, during which Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) can emerge. GAD is characterized by excessive and persistent anxiety and worry related to different areas of life, including work, family, health, or finances. Although conventional psychological therapies are available for such mental health problems, they can be time-consuming and costly. Therefore, shorter and effective psychological interventions are needed. Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT) has been supported by research as an approach in which fewer sessions may be sufficient for improving psychological symptoms. However, there is limited literature on the effectiveness of SFT for emerging adults with anxiety disorders in Pakistan, and the intervention has not been culturally validated for Pakistani emerging adults with GAD.

This study aims to examine the effectiveness of Solution-Focused Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder in emerging adults in Pakistan. The study will use a randomized controlled trial design. Emerging adults aged 18-29 years will first be screened using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) Scale to identify participants with mild to moderate levels of GAD. Eligible participants will then be randomly assigned to a treatment group receiving SFT or a waitlist control group. The SFT intervention will be applied to participants with GAD to examine its effectiveness in reducing their anxiety symptoms.

The study will assess changes in GAD symptoms before and after the intervention to determine the effectiveness of SFT among emerging adults with GAD in Pakistan. It is expected that participants receiving SFT will show a decline in GAD symptoms compared with the waitlist control group. The study will provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of a brief and culturally relevant SFT intervention for emerging adults with GAD in the Pakistani context.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Participants with mild to moderate scores of generalized anxiety disorder upon baseline assessment will be included in the study.

Exclusion criteria

Individuals will be excluded if they reported a diagnosis of psychotic disorder, and those receiving psychotherapy or counseling for anxiety.

Treatment and study plan

Solution-Focused Therapy

Behavioral

Participants in intervention group will receive Solution-Focused Therapy. The program includes approximately 6-8 individual sessions (45-60 minutes) covering goal-setting, exception-finding, scaling questions, the miracle question, identification of existing strengths and resources, and construction of solution-focused action steps.

Primary outcomes

  1. Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7)

    Time frame: Baseline and Week 8

    The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale assesses severity of anxiety symptoms. Total scores range from 0 to 21. Higher scores indicate more severe anxiety symptoms.

  2. Depression Anxiety Stress Scales - Short Form (DASS-21)

    Time frame: Baseline and Week 8

    The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales - Short Form (DASS-21) measures emotional distress. The total score ranges from 0 to 63 (combining depression, anxiety, and stress subscales). Higher scores indicate more severe emotional distress.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale - Short Form (IUS-12)

    Time frame: Baseline and Week 8

    The Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale - Short Form assesses reactions to ambiguous situations. Total scores range from 12 to 60. Higher scores indicate a greater intolerance of uncertainty.

  2. Negative Problem Orientation Questionnaire (NPOQ)

    Time frame: Baseline and Week 8

    The Negative Problem Orientation Questionnaire (NPOQ) evaluates dysfunctional cognitive attitudes toward problem-solving. Total scores range from 12 to 60. Higher scores indicate a more negative problem orientation.

  3. Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale - Short Form (DERS-SF)

    Time frame: Baseline and Week 8

    The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale - Short Form (DERS-SF) assesses emotion dysregulation. Total scores range from 18 to 90. Higher scores indicate greater difficulty in regulating emotions.

  4. Brief Resilience Scale

    Time frame: Baseline and Week 8

    The Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) measures the ability to recover from stress. Total scores range from 6 to 30. Higher scores indicate greater resilience (a better outcome).

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Fariha Hayat, MS

CONTACT

[email protected]

+92 3365288229

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

International Islamic University, Islamabad

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Sep 1, 2026
Registry last updated
Sep 1, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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