A minireview on the contrast avoidance model of worry and generalized anxiety disorder

Contrast Avoidance model claims that the main fear of individuals with generalized anxiety disorder is a negative emotional contrasts (shifts) and they use worry to create and maintain the negative and stable emotional state, so in this way, they could avoid from a negative emotional contrast. On the other hand, being in a negative emotional state, increases the likelihood of experiencing a positive emotional contrast and negative reinforcement due to a positive emotional contrast, maintains the worry process. the aim of present article is to a brief review on the Contrast Avoidance model, review of the studies supporting its tenets, and comparing the Contrast Avoidance model with present models of worry and generalized anxiety disorder. At the end, research suggestions are presented as future direction for this model.