Abstract Aim and Background: The most common psychiatric disorders in the general population, especially in Iran, are anxiety disorders and mood disorders. Several theories have been developed in recent years to explain the cognitive and behavioral disorders, including the &ldquo;intolerance of uncertainty&rdquo; model. This study aims at comparing variables of intolerance of uncertainty, worriness, cognitive avoidance and negative problem orientation, among patients with generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder and normal subjects. Methods and Materials: Three groups of patients with generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder and normal subjects, each with 30 members were selected using purposive sampling method. In order to collect the required data, questionnaires of intolerance of uncertainty, worriness, cognitive avoidance and negative problem orientation were used among three groups. Collected data was analyzed using Multivariate analysis and variance analysis as well as SPSS software version18. Findings: In four above mentioned variables, the difference between the three groups reached a significant level (P<0.05). In the variables of intolerance of uncertainty, worriness and negative problem orientation, the difference between each of the two groups of patients with generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder with normal subjects was significant&nbsp; (P<0.05). The difference between patients with major depressive disorder and normal subjects in cognitive avoidance variables was also significant (P <0.05). Conclusions: Four factors existing in &ldquo;intolerance of uncertainty&rdquo; model are common features of generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder. Psychiatrists and psychologists awareness of these factors can accelerate the identification, diagnosis and treatment of failure patterns in patients with generalized anxiety disorder and major depression.

Keywords: Intolerance of Uncertainty, Worriness, Cognitive Avoidance, Negative Problem Orientation, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder

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