PHC6534: Reducing the Prevalence of Generalized Anxiety Disorder Resulting from Adverse Childhood Experiences by a Trauma Informed Resiliency-Based Approach

This grant proposal is an intervention which will seek to reduce the prevalence of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) onset from adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) by utilizing a trauma-informed resiliency-based approach. The target audience will be young adults (ages 18-25) living in Seminole County, FL. The program will first recruit a representative sample group of individuals, screen for GAD and measure participants’ ACEs score. The intervention itself will consist of licensed mental health professional led trauma-informed group therapy and peer led community activities. This intervention will focus on the individual and community level of the social ecological model to strengthen both personal efficacy and interpersonal resilience, which is to achieve the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s trauma-informed principles of empowerment and peer support. The efficacy of this intervention will be assessed by a post-intervention screening for GAD and comparing pre- and post-intervention GAD-7 scores coupled with qualitative feedback in the debriefing process.