Journal of Psychiatry

The Anxiety disorders: Cognitive therapy mechanisms

Euro Global Summit and Medicare Expo on Psychiatry

July 20-22, 2015 Barcelona, Spain

Michael W Eysenck

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Psychiatry

Abstract:

It is indisputable that cognitive therapy for most of the anxiety disorders has proved increasingly successful forms of treatment. However, in spite of this success, it remains disappointingly unclear precisely why and how cognitive therapy is so effective. It also remains unclear whether forms of therapy allegedly not directly involving cognitive processes (e.g., exposure therapy) may depend for their efficacy in part on such processes. More generally, it is unfortunately the case that there has been insufficient research designed to identify the mediating mechanisms that are responsible for therapeutic success. The notion that the apparent mechanisms producing recovery from anxiety disorders are the actual ones is almost certainly simplistic. The talk will focus on the above issues. In addition, there will be a discussion of the methodological and other problematical issues that need to be resolved if research on the mediating mechanisms in the treatment of the anxiety disorders is to provide accurate and precise information. In essence, how can we maximise the probability of establishing causality in this complex area?