Cognitive-Behavioral Strategies to Manage Anxiety

Abstract

Anxiety disorders are a common mental illness across populations,1,2 with epidemiological studies showing that one-third of the population is affected by an anxiety disorder in their lifetime.3 Recent stressors such as the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic have significantly worsened anxiety rates internationally,4 and it is expected that the mental health consequences impacting the global population will be long-lasting.5 Despite this significant prevalence of anxiety symptoms, there is a significant access-to-care gap in mental health, where it takes more than 20 years for people in distress to receive evidence-based care in routine practice.6–8 One way to address this difficulty is to increase awareness of evidence-based practices for anxiety, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).9 CBT is a short-term, skills-focused treatment aimed at addressing psychological distress and maladaptive emotional responses by targeting the patient's thoughts, behaviors, or both.10 CBT has been shown to be effective for a range of problems, including anxiety disorders and depression.11 This issue of Psychiatric Annals will provide practitioners with a complete and up-to-date review on the cognitive-behavioral strategies that have been shown to be efficacious in addressing anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and comorbid anxiety and depression. Each article highlights a specific disorder, starting with the cognitive-behavioral theoretical understanding for the disorder, the cognitive-behavioral strategies employed, and the empirical evidence supporting their effectiveness for each disorder. [...]the goal of this issue is to equip mental health professionals with the knowledge required to deliver optimal care and to address the growing needs and prevalence of patients with anxiety symptoms. 1. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for adult anxiety disorders in clinical practice:ameta-analysis of effectiveness studies.JConsult Clin Psychol. 2009;77(4): 595–606.