CBT in Anxiety Disorders and Obsessive-Compulsive & Related Disorders

Summary: Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent psychiatric disorders worldwide, with a lifetime prevalence of up to 33%. They often run a chronic course and are highly comorbid with other anxiety and mood disorders. Anxiety disorders are associated with immense healthcare costs and huge burden. Despite the availability of evidence-based interventions, they are often underrecognized and undertreated. The major anxiety disorders in the current classificatory system include panic disorder (PD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), specific phobia, and social anxiety disorder (SAD). Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) has been nosologically separated from anxiety disorders and classified under the section of obsessive–compulsive and related disorders (OCRDs) in the DSM-5 and ICD-11. Commonly described disorders in this category include OCD, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs, i.e., trichotillomania and skin-picking disorder), and hoarding disorder. Both pharmacological and psychological interventions are effective in treating anxiety disorders and OCRDs. Clinical practice guidelines often recommend cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) as a first-line treatment for both anxiety disorders and OCRDs. In the following sections, we discuss scientifically tested CBT models, their evidence base, and treatment recommendations for individual disorders. Treatment recommendations are graded based on the Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy system, with three levels of recommendation, based on the quality, quantity, and consistency of evidence

Authors: Y. C. Janardhan Reddy, Paulomi M. Sudhir, M. Manjula, Shyam Sundar Arumugham, Janardhanan C. Narayanaswamy

Year of Publication: January-2020