Abstract
A noteworthy number of treatment seekers with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) do not achieve high end‐state functioning following cognitive‐behavioral therapy. Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) skills training may be an effective alternative treatment for GAD, especially for those with complex comorbidities and elevated emotion dysregulation. This article reviews the advantages of DBT skills training for GAD, including the emphasis on emotion dysregulation, inclusion of acceptance‐based strategies, and the dialectical approach. The theoretical support for DBT skills is reviewed, and treatments for GAD involving DBT skills are critically evaluated to assess the potential for DBT skills training for GAD. Further, this article conjectures on clinical presentations of GAD that would benefit from DBT skills training.