Spidy
09-23-2007, 05:49 PM
Intensive exposure therapy was the subject of a recent report by ABC's 20/20. The news program touted the therapy as a "new pioneering treatment for panic disorders." According to 20/20, intensive exposure therapy offers quick results. Additionally, according to the report, intensive exposure therapy ultimately may be a viable substitute for medication and/or long-term traditional therapy.
Intensive exposure therapy is not, in fact, a "new pioneering treatment." As 20/20 itself reports, the therapy has already been used to treat people with specific phobias, such as fear of flying. What is new, according to 20/20, is the use of intensive exposure therapy to treat panic disorder and its related phobias. The Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders at Boston University, the main focus of the report, is now offering a two-week program to treat panic disorder using intensive exposure therapy.
Exposure therapy is a process in which the phobic person is exposed to the feared situations or objects. The therapy may be done "in vivo" (the person is actually exposed to the real situations or objects) or through visualization techniques. Recently, a number of researchers have also developed virtual reality exposure therapy programs. Exposure therapy may be done quickly or slowly. Systematic desensitization is the gradual exposure to feared situations or objects. Intensive exposure therapy, also called "flooding," is the rapid exposure to feared situations.
The theory behind exposure therapy is basic: through exposure, the phobic person comes to see that the situation or object will not cause harm. With systematic desensitization, the phobic person stays in the situation until the panic levels are no longer manageable. Coping techniques, such as breathing exercises, are used to make the manageable period longer each time of exposure. With intensive exposure therapy, usually the phobic person stays and experiences intense panic, learning that these feelings will not cause harm.
Exposure therapy is not a controversial therapy nor is it a new one. It is often part of cognitive-behavioral treatment programs for phobias, including agoraphobia. What is controversial is whether or not the therapy should be a quick or slow process.
Just as with all other treatment options (from medication to psychotherapy), it would seem that the effectiveness of intensive exposure therapy would depend on the individual. The Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders has apparently had success in using intensive exposure therapy in treating panic disorder. However, the consumer might want to take a few points into consideration prior to becoming overly optimistic about such treatment:
What kinds of long-term studies have been conducted on the effects of a two-week intensive exposure therapy program? What is the relapse rate after completing this program?
People with panic disorder experience spontaneous panic attacks. The spontaneous aspect of these attacks is what differentiates the attacks of panic disorder from the attacks of other anxiety disorders. How does intensive exposure therapy alone address spontaneous panic attacks?
Is intensive exposure therapy potentially effective with anyone who has panic disorder, from mild to severe?
The purpose of this article is not to discredit the potential of intensive exposure therapy as a treatment option for panic disorder. It is merely to urge caution in putting too much faith into a possibly quick fix for a serious condition. The National Institute of Mental Health still advocates a combination of medication and cognitive-behavioral therapy (usually including systematic desensitization) as the most effective treatment for most individuals with panic disorder. Panic disorder is a complex condition, often made more complex with the co-existance of other conditions, mainly depression and/or other anxiety disorders.
An individual with panic disorder has the responsibility of learning about all treatment options and attempting to discover which option(s) will work best on an individual level. If you're interested in learning more about the Boston program, contact them. They will also provide referrals, if you're not in the Boston area. The most important point, however, is that you are in some kind of treatment and that you have a support system in place.
thanks,
spidy.
Intensive exposure therapy is not, in fact, a "new pioneering treatment." As 20/20 itself reports, the therapy has already been used to treat people with specific phobias, such as fear of flying. What is new, according to 20/20, is the use of intensive exposure therapy to treat panic disorder and its related phobias. The Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders at Boston University, the main focus of the report, is now offering a two-week program to treat panic disorder using intensive exposure therapy.
Exposure therapy is a process in which the phobic person is exposed to the feared situations or objects. The therapy may be done "in vivo" (the person is actually exposed to the real situations or objects) or through visualization techniques. Recently, a number of researchers have also developed virtual reality exposure therapy programs. Exposure therapy may be done quickly or slowly. Systematic desensitization is the gradual exposure to feared situations or objects. Intensive exposure therapy, also called "flooding," is the rapid exposure to feared situations.
The theory behind exposure therapy is basic: through exposure, the phobic person comes to see that the situation or object will not cause harm. With systematic desensitization, the phobic person stays in the situation until the panic levels are no longer manageable. Coping techniques, such as breathing exercises, are used to make the manageable period longer each time of exposure. With intensive exposure therapy, usually the phobic person stays and experiences intense panic, learning that these feelings will not cause harm.
Exposure therapy is not a controversial therapy nor is it a new one. It is often part of cognitive-behavioral treatment programs for phobias, including agoraphobia. What is controversial is whether or not the therapy should be a quick or slow process.
Just as with all other treatment options (from medication to psychotherapy), it would seem that the effectiveness of intensive exposure therapy would depend on the individual. The Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders has apparently had success in using intensive exposure therapy in treating panic disorder. However, the consumer might want to take a few points into consideration prior to becoming overly optimistic about such treatment:
What kinds of long-term studies have been conducted on the effects of a two-week intensive exposure therapy program? What is the relapse rate after completing this program?
People with panic disorder experience spontaneous panic attacks. The spontaneous aspect of these attacks is what differentiates the attacks of panic disorder from the attacks of other anxiety disorders. How does intensive exposure therapy alone address spontaneous panic attacks?
Is intensive exposure therapy potentially effective with anyone who has panic disorder, from mild to severe?
The purpose of this article is not to discredit the potential of intensive exposure therapy as a treatment option for panic disorder. It is merely to urge caution in putting too much faith into a possibly quick fix for a serious condition. The National Institute of Mental Health still advocates a combination of medication and cognitive-behavioral therapy (usually including systematic desensitization) as the most effective treatment for most individuals with panic disorder. Panic disorder is a complex condition, often made more complex with the co-existance of other conditions, mainly depression and/or other anxiety disorders.
An individual with panic disorder has the responsibility of learning about all treatment options and attempting to discover which option(s) will work best on an individual level. If you're interested in learning more about the Boston program, contact them. They will also provide referrals, if you're not in the Boston area. The most important point, however, is that you are in some kind of treatment and that you have a support system in place.
thanks,
spidy.