Cognitive Therapy and Research, Vol. 29, No. 1, February 2005 ( C  2005), pp. 1–5 DOI: 10.1007/s10608-005-1644-0 Cognitive Mechanisms in Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Second Generation of Theoretical Perspectives John H. Riskind 1 A second generation of cognitive-behavioral models of GAD have extended Beck’s model in several critical directions. These directions involve placing greater emphasis on understanding the role of compensatory self-protective processes such as worry, and more recently, of affective avoidance, as well as the role of emotion dysregula- tion. They also include trying to better understand the threat appraisals and fears of uncertainty that may be implicated in the disorder. The present Special Issue presents several papers that illustrate these new approaches. This Introduction to the Special Issue briefly considers the interrelation of these models in a broader theoretical con- text and suggests in outline several future research directions for developing a better and more articulated understanding of the disorder. KEY WORDS: generalized anxiety disorder; cognitive mechanisms; affective mechanisms. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a devastating problem that produces significant impairment (Mogotsi, Kaminer, & Stein, 2000) and disabling effects that are as serious, if not more so, than those of lung disease, drug addiction, and major depression (Kessler, in press). Moreover, GAD is characterized by excessive and uncontrollable worry and anxiety that can worsen and exacerbate health conditions (Bell, 1995), as well as lead to demoralization, depression, or other anxiety disor- ders. From recent studies, it appears that approximately 5% of the population, in the world and this country, suffer from GAD at some point in their lives (Kessler, in press). Other research indicates that in any given year, about 2–3% of the popula- tion has the disorder (Wittchen & Hoyer, 2001). The disorder is persistent and only about a third of lifetime sufferers experience spontaneous recovery without treat- ment (Wittchen & Hoyer, 2001). Moreover, the disorder often has its onset in the teenage years, and particularly increases in prevalence in age after 35, with rates of the disorder much higher in people who are older than 35 years of age (Wittchen & Hoyer, 2001). People who are separated, divorced, or widowed are also at higher 1 Department of Psychology MSN 3F5, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia 22030-4444; e-mail: jriskind@gmu.edu. 1 0147-5916/05/0200-0001/0 C  2005 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.