Alternative psychotherapy approaches for social anxiety disorder.
Alternative therapies and therapy modalities for SAD are needed because: Established treatments (CBT and pharmacologic) do not help everyone who seeks help. Established treatments provide only partial decrease in symptoms for many patients. Patients may experience recurrence of symptoms in long-term follow-up. CBT does not reach enough patients in need. Alternative treatment approaches and modalities may also be needed to address the successful outcomes of CBT. Success in overcoming social anxiety symptoms can generate a whole new set of challenges. For example, a 31-year-old man who overcomes his fear of dating and begins his first romantic relationship may need a less symptomatically focused therapy to deal with issues that arise in this relationship. Likewise, a woman whose decreased social anxiety enables her to get a long-awaited promotion may need to deal with the stress of adjusting to her new responsibilities. An individual who overcomes phobia of public speaking and still has mild anxiety may need to graduate to a forum such as Toastmasters to provide continued exposure to further develop confidence and skills in public speaking.
Lipsitz
J D
JD
Anxiety Disorders Clinic, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, USA. lipsitz@nyspi.cpmc.columbia.edu
Marshall
R D
RD
D000275:Adjustment Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000379:methods*; D003887:Desensitization, Psychologic; D005133:Eye Movements; D006801:Humans; D006990:Hypnosis; D008297:Male; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D011572:Psychoanalysis; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted