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.