Empirically Based Treatments

Behavior Therapy

Social Phobia-in vivo exposure Agoraphobia-prolonged in vivo exposure Panic Attacks-breathing exercises, cog focus on

catastrophic thoughts, in vivo exposure (CO2 inhalation)

Social Anxiety-(skill deficit) skill training, exposure (conditional anxiety), evaluation of one’s performance (cog therapy), my own addition (development of self-fears of loss, punishment, etc)

PTSD-exposure and desensitization GAD-Relaxation and biofeedback OCD-exposure

Behavior Therapy

Alcoholism-aversion therapy (chemical/electrical), social skills training, controlled drinking (motivational therapy), cue exposure

Cognitive Behavioral

Depression-examination of existing beliefs Panic and Anxiety-Catastrophic Cognitions GAD- Overestimates of danger and

underestimates of one’s ability to cope with those risks

Social Phobia- undue fear of evaluation and avoidance

Bulimia Behavioral Medicine- Preparation for medical

treatments, coping with cancer, chronic pain, tension headaches, rehab after brain injury

Possibly marital therapy

Psychodynamic

Not as easily studied and most studies focus on aspects of treatment vs. diagnostic improvements (ie interpretation of transference, therapist/client relationship

Experiential Therapies-Gestalt, Rodgers

Lack of research on existential approaches

Research is focused on specific techniques (ie two chair dialogue, etc)

Children And Adolescents

Conduct Disorder-functional family therapy (clinical problems conceptualized for the function they serve the family)

ADHD-multimodal therapy (medication, behavioral therapy, case management, family therapy, group therapy)

Remember that treatment success depends on what “success” means (reduction in behaviors, happier child, etc)

Andrew is a 19-yr-old, 1st generation, Asian American university student presenting with a depression that began during the 2nd semester of Freshman year.

He has poor concentration, fatigue, a sense of worthlessness, is isolating from friends, and is having trouble sleeping.

He is upset with himself stating “I shouldn’t feel this way. I should be able to pull it together and focus on my studies.”

He is not currently in a relationship, stating that he needs to attend to his academics at this time in his life. He is an only child and describes his relationship with his parents as “good, no problems there.” He also reports having several friends that he has “good relationships” with. However, Andrew has not shared his current problem with friends or family.

He has no medical problems, is on no medications, has had no previous therapy, denies SI/HI. Since he is a student he has University Insurance to pay for his therapy.

During the first session, he seems to be looking to you for answers to his problem and after the session, he thanks you for your help and stresses his appreciation for your time.