Understanding cognitive and behavioural mechanisms of Generalised Anxiety Disorder in adolescents

Over the course of this project, we aim to further our understanding of the cognitive and behavioural mechanisms that underly the maintenance of Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) in adolescents. We will explore the processes that feature in adult models (e.g., intolerance of uncertainty, cognitive avoidance, and positive beliefs about worry), in addition to factors that may be specific to adolescents (e.g., peer and family factors). Furthermore, we will assess the potential relationship between maladaptive perfectionism and GAD in young people, given evidence for the role of this transdiagnostic process in adult and non-clinical adolescent samples. The project will make use of a range of methodologies (qualitative and quantitative) and will involve engagement with adolescents with lived experience (including those from the NeurOx Young People's Advisory Group (YPAG)). Our findings will inform the development of a cognitive model of GAD in adolescence and, building upon this, we will co-design and assess the efficacy of a brief psychological intervention in a multiple baseline case series. This project falls under the Population and public health sciences skills priority.