The Psychological Impact of Buddhist Counseling for Patients Suffering From Symptoms of Anxiety Somporn Rungreangkulkij and Wiwat Wongtakee The purpose of this study was to examine the outcomes of individual Buddhist counseling interventions for patients suffering from symptoms of anxiety. A single-group pretest and posttest design was used to measure outcomes. Twenty-one patients participated in the study as voluntary subjects, all of whom completed two sessions of Buddhist counseling interventions. The individual Buddhist counseling program was developed by the investigators based on the Buddhist doctrine. The outcomes were evaluated with the use of the StateTrait Anxiety Inventory. Data were analyzed using the Friedman test, which provides an indicator for evidence-based outcomes related to anxiety reduction scores. The results revealed that the scores on the state anxiety test in relation to the trait anxiety test had been reduced at the 1-month follow-up. The findings from content analysis showed that when the patients practiced mindfulness, they were able to accept unpleasant situations calmly. Sixteen patients were pre- scribed lower doses of antianxiety medications. Furthermore, medication was discontinued for two patients, and three other patients continued their pre- scribed medication regimen completely. The study indicates that counseling as a basis from Buddhist principles has the potential to benefit patients with emotional anxiety-based problems. © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. G ENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER (henceforth referred to as “anxiety disorder” or, simply, “anxiety”) has become the leading contributing factor associated with self-harming behavior in adults worldwide. It is therefore a serious concern to the world medical community. According to a World Health Organization report (Desai & Issa, 2006), the prevalence of anxiety disorders within Western countries is estimated to be as high as 10%–15% of the population. In the United States, anxiety disorders may affect as many as 40 million adults (National Institute of Mental Health, 2006). Data on these disorders in Southeast Asia are not conclusive. However, the prevalence of these disorders in Southeast Asia is estimated to be approaching that in Western countries because of rapidly changing social and cultural conditions there (Desai & Issa, 2006). A 1994 community survey in Thailand showed that 9.5% of Thais suffer from an anxiety disorder and that the condition appears more often in females than in males (Awutkom, 1998). Anxiety disorders are chronic and can grow progressively worse if not treated (National Institute of Mental Health, 2006). The most common symptoms causing Thai patients to seek medical attention are those also commonly associated with the early warning signs From the Faculty of Nursing, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand; and Nakae Hospital, Nakhon Phanom Province, Thailand. Address reprint requests to Somporn Rungreangkulkij, RN, PhD, Faculty of Nursing, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand. E-mail address: somrun@kku.ac.th © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 0883-9417/1801-0005$34.00/0 doi:10.1016/j.apnu.2007.07.004 Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, Vol. 22, No. 3 (June), 2008: pp 127–134 127