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

Anxiety disorders are common worldwide, and anxiety and stress symptoms are particularlyprevalent among university students in Pakistan. Emerging adulthood is a criticaldevelopmental period characterized by significant transitions, identity exploration, andheightened stress, during which Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) can emerge. GAD ischaracterized by excessive and persistent anxiety and worry related to different areas oflife, including work, family, health, or finances. Although conventional psychologicaltherapies are available for such mental health problems, they can be time‐consuming andcostly. Therefore, shorter and effective psychological interventions are needed.Solution‐Focused Therapy (SFT) has been supported by research as an approach in whichfewer sessions may be sufficient for improving psychological symptoms. However, there islimited literature on the effectiveness of SFT for emerging adults with anxiety disordersin Pakistan, and the intervention has not been culturally validated for Pakistaniemerging adults with GAD.This study aims to examine the effectiveness of Solution‐Focused Therapy for GeneralizedAnxiety Disorder in emerging adults in Pakistan. The study will use a randomizedcontrolled trial design. Emerging adults aged 18‐29 years will first be screened usingthe Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7‐item (GAD‐7) Scale to identify participants with mildto moderate levels of GAD. Eligible participants will then be randomly assigned to atreatment group receiving SFT or a waitlist control group. The SFT intervention will beapplied to participants with GAD to examine its effectiveness in reducing their anxietysymptoms.The study will assess changes in GAD symptoms before and after the intervention todetermine the effectiveness of SFT among emerging adults with GAD in Pakistan. It isexpected that participants receiving SFT will show a decline in GAD symptoms comparedwith the waitlist control group. The study will provide evidence regarding theeffectiveness of a brief and culturally relevant SFT intervention for emerging adultswith GAD in the Pakistani context.