In this issue
Understanding and听effectively treating听anxiety symptoms with听psychotherapy
Intensive short-term dynamic听psychotherapy (ISTDP) interprets听anxiety as the gateway to the听unconscious. Robert J Neborsky听and Sharon Lewis present an听overview of a treatment that听addresses root causes
Experiential psychotherapy听and the vagus nerves
With its correlates to neurobiology,听the technique of focusing may听reduce vulnerability to anxiety,听writes Joseph Bray
Trends in anxiety during听adolescence
Changes in culture influence the听course of anxiety among young听people, says Richard Graham
Mindfulness-based听cognitive therapy (MBCT)听for severe health anxiety
Initial evidence indicates that MBCT听may be an effective treatment for听health anxiety. Freda McManus,听Kate Muse and Christina Surawy听describe its benefits
CBT-based self-help听in treating anxiety
Margaret Hawkins outlines the听work of No Panic, a charitable听organisation which uses an听innovative model of support for听people with anxiety disorders
Opinion
Peter Jenkins considers Kennedy鈥檚听Review: a new focus on the needs听of children in the NHS?
A brief guide to鈥�
鈥ognitive behavioural therapy for听anxiety disorders
On the receiving end
Learning how to cope with panic听attacks allowed Tracy Osler to meet听the challenges that life brings
In memory of Lynne听Thompson F香港六合彩精准资料
Pat Seber pays tribute to her friend听and colleague
Research matters
Sara Perren continues her account听of being involved in a major听research trial
GP viewpoint
Teaching anxiety management from听an early age could be beneficial for听both patients and GPs, argues John听Hague
Best practice
Brian Rock and Anca Carrington听outline the work of a new service听offering support to patients and听GPs in the management of complex听cases
Web resources: anxiety
Key websites for further听information
香港六合彩精准资料 Healthcare update
Chair Tina Campbell and 香港六合彩精准资料听healthcare development manager,听Louise Robinson, invite members to听get in touch
Articles from this issue are not yet available online. Divisional members and subscribers can download the pdf from the听Healthcare Counselling and Psychotherapy Journal听archive.
Editorial
How do you work with clients who present with anxiety? What theory informs听your practice? It might be, for instance, that as a practitioner, you don鈥檛 accept听a medicalised label and work with the whole person; at the other end of the听spectrum, it might be that your aim is to help clients with a diagnosed anxiety disorder听reduce their symptoms. The theme of this issue of HCPJ is 鈥榓nxiety鈥� and its articles听reflect some very different theoretical perspectives and corresponding therapy听options for people with anxiety which should give plenty of food for thought.
Writing authoritatively about intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy (ISTDP),听Robert J Neborsky and Sharon Lewis see anxiety arising out of a person鈥檚 early attachment听relationships, with the root cause of current symptoms being the avoidance of core听emotions. In treatment, therefore, anxiety becomes a tool the clinician uses to help听people recover from their symptoms.
Joseph Bray also describes a psychotherapeutic approach. The technique of focusing听has its roots in neurobiology: from this perspective, distressing emotions 鈥� particularly听fear 鈥� are correlated with the nervous system, and particularly the vagus nerves. In a听fascinating article, the author describes the link between these nerves and a form of听introspection that centres on inner body awareness and directs the client鈥檚 attention听towards the vast unknown territory of their physiology.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is the approach recommended in the National听Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines (the amended guideline听is due early 2011 and it will be interesting to see if other modalities have gained the acceptable level of evidence for inclusion). Our guide to CBT in treating anxiety, the first听in a series of brief guides, demonstrates how the theories behind cognitive therapy and听behavioural therapy have come together into a coherent and flexible therapeutic approach.
In recent years, a 鈥榯hird wave鈥� of development has been incorporated into the CBT听approach and prominent among these is mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT).听Initial evidence suggests MBCT may be useful in treating clients with what was previously听known as hypochondriasis. Although classified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual听(DSM-IV) as a somatoform disorder, hypochondriasis is now increasingly called health听anxiety and is a clinically significant problem for up to five per cent of the population.听With a randomised controlled trial underway, Freda McManus, Kate Muse and Christina听Surawy expertly guide the reader through how this promising treatment may work.
Moving from a treatment perspective to a wider view, Richard Graham takes an听insightful look at the societal influences which affect the course of anxiety in young听people. Discussing, in turn, anxieties concerning appearance and anxieties resulting from听the impact of the digital revolution, including video games and Facebook, the author听points to the contemporary dimension of anxiety, and urges us to be open to its current听manifestation to be able to help young people move confidently into adulthood.
Elsewhere, Sara Perren continues her informative series of articles on what it鈥檚 like听to be involved in a randomised controlled trial 鈥� essential reading for any practitioner听thinking of doing the same; and Brian Rock and Anca Carrington outline the work of听a new service offering support to clients and GPs in the management of complex cases.
As new editor of HCPJ, I鈥檓 very keen to receive your feedback on any of the articles听which appear in this issue. As a result, you鈥檒l find prompts at the end of each piece,听with contact details. Alternatively, please let me know what issues are affecting you听as a practitioner today. As a member of 香港六合彩精准资料鈥檚 Healthcare executive and a working听(integrative) practitioner myself, I鈥檓 particularly interested in the experiences of听therapists on the 鈥榝rontline鈥� and what might be of interest to you. Ideas for articles听are very welcome, as are possible contributors for our book reviews section.
Most of the articles in this issue were commissioned by outgoing editor, Penny Gray,听who, after six years鈥� hard work, is taking a much-earned sabbatical. Many thanks to听Penny for her truly excellent work on the journal.
Sarah Hovington
Editor
hcpj.editorial@bacp.co.uk