3/5/25 Treatments & Therapy

Introduction

• Discussion on anxiety management and cognitive therapy.

• Highlights on student engagement through questions and dialogue.

Exposure Therapy

• Concept: Involves facing feared situations instead of avoiding them.

• Benefits:

  • Reduces anxiety over time.

  • Allows individuals to realize that their worst fears are often unfounded.

  • Changes in bodily responses and emotions contribute to reduced anxiety levels.

• Understanding Exposure:

  • Engaging with and not avoiding anxiety-provoking thoughts and feelings helps alleviate fears.

Cognitive Therapy Overview

• Cognitive Model: Integrates thoughts, behaviors, and physiological responses.

• Goals in Therapy:

  • Teach clients to address and modify their thoughts at various levels:

    • Automatic Thoughts: Immediate responses to situations (e.g., “I’m going insane”).

    • Intermediate Beliefs: Broader issues linking thoughts and fears.

    • Core Beliefs: Deep-rooted beliefs about oneself, often negative.

• Examples of Automatic Thoughts and Emotions:

  • Thoughts like “I am going crazy” provoke powerful emotions and behaviors.

  • Recognizing the irrationality of these thoughts is a key step in therapy.

Cognitive Restructuring

• Process: Identifying and challenging negative thoughts.

  • Start with surface-level thoughts before addressing deeper beliefs.

  • Use evidence to counteract negative assumptions (e.g., proving competence).

• Behavioral Component:

  • Important for reinforcing cognitive changes, through activities like role-playing.

• Behavioral Experiments:

  • Designed to test validity of negative thoughts in real-life situations.

  • Example: Seeking jobs or making calls under therapy guidance.

Cognitive Therapy Applications

• Disorders Treatable with Cognitive Therapy:

  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

  • Social Anxiety Disorder

  • Body Dysmorphic Disorder

  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Treatment Components

• Incorporate:

  • Decision-making skills and problem solving.

  • Activity monitoring and scheduling to combat depression.

  • Therapy is tailored based on disorder specifics.

Panic Disorder Specifics

• Panic Control Treatment: Merges cognitive therapy with exposure to internal sensations.

• Interoceptive Exposure:

  • Involves clients experiencing mild panic symptoms in a controlled environment to reduce fear.

• Hierarchy Creation: Gradual exposure plan helps manage panic triggers.

Medication Overview

• Classes of Medications:

  • Benzodiazepines (e.g., Xanax, Valium): Prescribed for immediate relief but addictive.

  • SSRIs (e.g., Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil): Used for longer-term treatment targeting serotonin levels; fewer side effects than previous antidepressants.

  • SNRIs (e.g., Cymbalta, Effexor): Target serotonin and norepinephrine for anxiety and mood disorders.

• D-Cycloserine: Antibiotic aiding exposure treatment effectiveness, promotes faster learning during therapy.

Important Considerations

• Consultation and Monitoring:

  • Any medication adjustments should be fully supervised to avoid withdrawal symptoms or complications.

  • Importance of treating the whole person, considering mental and physical health together.

Final Thoughts

• Importance of cognitive therapy as a flexible, evidence-based treatment option.

• Understanding drug classes and their applications is crucial for exam preparation.

• Self-care and mental well-being are essential in managing anxiety and related disorders.