Behaviour Therapy for Neurotic Disorders

Abstract

This article reviews evidence about the value of behaviour therapy for the treatment of patients who present with phobic disorders anxiety states, obsessional neuroses, and hysteria. Although progress has been made in developing effective behaviour therapy for the major neurotic syndromes, much remains to be done. Only in the phobic disorders is there a sufficient body of knowledge to give clear guidance to the clinician about the best methods of treatment. However, this work on phobias already has pointed to several lines of enquiry which are likely to be fruitful with the other syndromes in which the contribution of behavioural methods is promising, though less certainly established. In particular, more attention needs to be given to ways of ensuring that patient treatment by behavioural measures will be continued.