PATIENT CONTROL IN ANXIETY THERAPY
WHAT?
The results of a recent study demonstrate the power
of patient participation and control during therapy sessions to treat anxiety
disorders. Anxiety is a state of
fearfulness and apprehension frequently accompanied with a feeling of doom. The number of people with anxiety disorders
has increased during the last several years and as a result the disorder is
getting more attention.
WHAT THEN?
Psychotherapy (talk sessions) with a counselor traditionally has
been the way to deal with this disorder.
This method often required long periods of time and of course it could
be very expensive. But the key point is
that the patient was not involved in the therapy and often did not know if he
or she was improving. Frequently, after
the therapy ended, the patient would return with the same symptoms. Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is a method
that involves the patient with his or her own control and input.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The central premise of CBT is that the cognitive
part of your brain can dominate over the emotional part. The counseling sessions teach the patient how
to do this. It involves learning how to
think correctly about situations and events and what the appropriate response
should be. A very important part of the
therapy is for the patient to document (homework) all the perceived stressors,
disruptions to personal harmony and other negative inputs and record responses
to these perturbations. These are then
discussed with the therapist to help teach the patient a healthy response. Over time, the patient will “learn”
appropriate responses and this “learning” will become part of the normal
thought process.
WHAT IS THE CATCH?
This approach requires dedicated participation by
the patient. It is hard work. The patient must attend all sessions and
perform the tedious homework assignments.
DOES IT WORK?
Studies have shown it has a high success rate. This is particularly true when adjustments to
results are made based on initial severity, ethnicity and gender. The payoff is that it gives the patient more
control over symptoms and feelings with the power to apply corrections.
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