The psychotherapeutic implications of functional neuroimaging studies of anxiety disorders. (October 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cheung, Peter
• Is Part Of: Australasian psychiatry. Volume 21:Number 5(2013)
• Page Start: 461
• Page End: 465
• Publication Date: 2013-10
• Subjects: anxiety disorders -- emotion dysregulation -- functional neuroimaging -- psychotherapy; Psychiatry -- Australasia -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.89005
• DOI: 10.1177/1039856213496854
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1039-8562

Abstract

Objective: To explore and discuss the psychotherapeutic implications of functional neuroimaging findings in anxiety disorders. Conclusions: Therapeutic implications of the neural system dysfunctions found in functional neuroimaging studies of anxiety disorders include: emotional dysregulation can probably be found in all anxiety disorders except obsessive compulsive disorder and needs to be addressed; the probable salience of enhancing implicit emotion regulation in improving overall treatment outcome; the importance of addressing insecure attachment in establishing and maintaining the therapeutic relationship; the need to enhance the reward-approach system especially in chronic treatment-resistant patients; the need to address traumatic memory in anxiety disorders other than PTSD among those with a traumatic history. There is likely to be a need for therapeutic techniques and strategies of different psychotherapy schools to be utilized to adequately address the various neural dysfunctions in patients with anxiety disorders.