8 AUGUST 2024IN MY OPINIONCOGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL THERAPY FOR ANXIETY DISORDERSBy David F. Tolin, Director, Anxiety Disorders Center and Center for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Institute of Living, Hartford HospitalAnxiety-related disorders include specific phobia, social anxiety, generalized anxiety, panic, agoraphobia, obsessive-compulsive, and posttraumatic stress disorders. These conditions are highly common, with an estimated cost to society in excess of $42 billion in 1990, the last time such an analysis was conducted, and substantial reductions in health-related quality of life. Fortunately, effective treatments are available. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based, time-limited, and action-oriented psychological treatment. Some of the most commonly used strategies for treating anxiety-related disorders include: (a) exposure, in which patients are asked to gradually approach feared and avoided stimuli; (b) cognitive restructuring, in which faulty beliefs are challenged and the patient is encouraged to consider new perspectives, and (c) relaxation, which involves
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