https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3712497/
IU is a characteristic predominantly associated with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD); however, emerging evidence indicates that IU may be a shared element of emotional disorders.
They state that worrying helps them to problem solve, prepare for potential outcomes, prevent negative outcomes from occurring, and minimize emotional reactions to negative outcomes
Worry, is thought to reduce distress over uncertainty and its associated affects (Greco & Roger, 2003) and increase, at least the perception of, control over future outcomes
It is not surprising that GAD and OCD have received most of the attention in the IU literature. Distress related to uncertainty and the use of cognitive and behavioral strategies to reduce or manage anxious arousal related to feared potential outcomes and increase one's perception of certainty and control are core elements of GAD and OCD that are implicated in the development and maintenance of both disorders.
-------
https://www.verywellmind.com/intolerance-of-uncertainty-therapy-for-gad-4134611
Intolerance of Uncertainty in GAD
To address this gap in understanding fears in GAD, researchers in Quebec, Canada developed a model in the early 1990s that consists of four components.
The most important component is known as IU, and is thought of as a higher-order process that leads directly to worry through three other processes:
1. Positive beliefs about worry. Positive beliefs about worry refers to holding the belief that worry is helpful in some way. In this context, worrying is a way for you to gain certainty.
2. Negative problem orientation. Negative problem orientation refers to when you feel helpless to solve problems, view problems as threatening, or as barriers or obstacles, and doubt your ability to solve problems.
3. Cognitive avoidance: Cognitive avoidance refers to the behavior of only dealing with problems when absolutely necessary.
People with GAD are thought to have higher intolerance of uncertainty than those with other anxiety disorders. They have a belief system in which uncertainty is viewed as stressful, unfair, upsetting, and to be avoided.
In this model, when you worry, you are trying to reduce feelings of uncertainty. If you worry that you might be late for an appointment, you will leave much earlier than necessary to be absolutely certain you get there on time.
Since it is the uncertainty of events, and not some aspect of them in particular that triggers your worry, what you worry about through the day will change. In the morning, you might be worried about making it to a dentist appointment on time, while by evening you could be fretting about making a decision over which cell phone plan to choose.
In this way, worry is a tactic you use to try and mentally plan and prepare for any possible outcome, especially bad ones. However, the worry in generalized anxiety disorder can be so severe that it becomes a problem itself.
Are You Intolerant of Uncertainty?
The following thoughts and behaviors reflect intolerance of uncertainty. Ask yourself if any of these apply to you:
• You look for information and solutions to every possible problem you may face.
• You require perfect solutions that must have a 100 percent chance of working.
• You seek reassurance from others that everything will be okay, and get second and third opinions on medical matters.
• You make lists, double-check, refuse to delegate tasks, or over-prepare to manage uncertainty.
• You think that uncertainty means something bad will happen.
• You feel it is irresponsible or dangerous for there to be uncertainty in your life.
• You avoid new situations out of fear of uncertainty.
• You procrastinate, keep predictable routines, or ask others to make decisions for you.
• You feel that you can't tolerate not knowing the outcome of a situation.
• You feel that you would rather know for sure that the outcome of a situation will be bad, than be left not knowing the outcome.
IU is a characteristic predominantly associated with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD); however, emerging evidence indicates that IU may be a shared element of emotional disorders.
They state that worrying helps them to problem solve, prepare for potential outcomes, prevent negative outcomes from occurring, and minimize emotional reactions to negative outcomes
Worry, is thought to reduce distress over uncertainty and its associated affects (Greco & Roger, 2003) and increase, at least the perception of, control over future outcomes
It is not surprising that GAD and OCD have received most of the attention in the IU literature. Distress related to uncertainty and the use of cognitive and behavioral strategies to reduce or manage anxious arousal related to feared potential outcomes and increase one's perception of certainty and control are core elements of GAD and OCD that are implicated in the development and maintenance of both disorders.
-------
https://www.verywellmind.com/intolerance-of-uncertainty-therapy-for-gad-4134611
Intolerance of Uncertainty in GAD
To address this gap in understanding fears in GAD, researchers in Quebec, Canada developed a model in the early 1990s that consists of four components.
The most important component is known as IU, and is thought of as a higher-order process that leads directly to worry through three other processes:
1. Positive beliefs about worry. Positive beliefs about worry refers to holding the belief that worry is helpful in some way. In this context, worrying is a way for you to gain certainty.
2. Negative problem orientation. Negative problem orientation refers to when you feel helpless to solve problems, view problems as threatening, or as barriers or obstacles, and doubt your ability to solve problems.
3. Cognitive avoidance: Cognitive avoidance refers to the behavior of only dealing with problems when absolutely necessary.
People with GAD are thought to have higher intolerance of uncertainty than those with other anxiety disorders. They have a belief system in which uncertainty is viewed as stressful, unfair, upsetting, and to be avoided.
In this model, when you worry, you are trying to reduce feelings of uncertainty. If you worry that you might be late for an appointment, you will leave much earlier than necessary to be absolutely certain you get there on time.
Since it is the uncertainty of events, and not some aspect of them in particular that triggers your worry, what you worry about through the day will change. In the morning, you might be worried about making it to a dentist appointment on time, while by evening you could be fretting about making a decision over which cell phone plan to choose.
In this way, worry is a tactic you use to try and mentally plan and prepare for any possible outcome, especially bad ones. However, the worry in generalized anxiety disorder can be so severe that it becomes a problem itself.
Are You Intolerant of Uncertainty?
The following thoughts and behaviors reflect intolerance of uncertainty. Ask yourself if any of these apply to you:
• You look for information and solutions to every possible problem you may face.
• You require perfect solutions that must have a 100 percent chance of working.
• You seek reassurance from others that everything will be okay, and get second and third opinions on medical matters.
• You make lists, double-check, refuse to delegate tasks, or over-prepare to manage uncertainty.
• You think that uncertainty means something bad will happen.
• You feel it is irresponsible or dangerous for there to be uncertainty in your life.
• You avoid new situations out of fear of uncertainty.
• You procrastinate, keep predictable routines, or ask others to make decisions for you.
• You feel that you can't tolerate not knowing the outcome of a situation.
• You feel that you would rather know for sure that the outcome of a situation will be bad, than be left not knowing the outcome.
