+AA

Three wooden alphabet blocks spelling CBT

Managing anxiety with cognitive behaviour therapy: What is it and how can it help?

Oct 12, 2022 - McMaster University - 63 minutes

Anxiety is a universal emotion that we all experience but, for 1 in 4 people, anxiety can be significantly debilitating. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based psychological treatment that is a first-line treatment for individuals with anxiety disorders. In this webinar recording, Dr. Randi McCabe discusses CBT and how it is used to target anxiety symptoms, as well as available resources, including self-help and therapist-assisted treatment. Learn about the nature of anxiety and its disorders and how to determine when the experience of anxiety warrants intervention.

Learn the answers to the following questions:

00:00 What is anxiety?
20:23 How is anxiety treated?
24:23 What is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)?
38:28 How do you get CBT?

Download this list of helpful resources related to anxiety and CBT.

Want to test your knowledge? After watching this video take this quick 4-question quiz.

Give us your feedback with this 2-question survey.

Browse all video posts.

Get the latest content first. Sign up for free weekly email alerts.

Aging creatively: How arts, storytelling, and hobbies can enrich later life

Mental health and heart disease: Can psychological therapies help?

4 therapies to help improve psychological health and mental well-being

Author Details

Randi McCabe

Dr. Randi McCabe is a Professor and Academic Head of the Anxiety Division in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University. She is a clinical psychologist and Director of the Anxiety Treatment and Research Clinic (ATRC) at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton. Dr. McCabe’s research has focused on anxiety disorders assessment as well as the development and evaluation of novel cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) interventions for a range of disorders. She has published over 190 peer reviewed papers and chapters as well as nine books, including the recently released Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in Groups (2022).

Author Details

Anthony Levinson

Dr. Anthony J. Levinson is a Professor at McMaster University and holds the John R. Evans Chair in Health Sciences Educational Research and Instructional Development. One of the co-leaders of the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal, Dr. Levinson is also a psychiatrist with a special interest in medical psychiatry and neuropsychiatry. His area of research interest includes online learning to improve healthcare provider and patient education.

References

Kessler RC, Amminger GP, Aguilar-Gaxiola S,et al. Age of onset of mental disorders: a review of recent literature. Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2007; Jul;20(4):359-64. doi: 10.1097/YCO.0b013e32816ebc8c.
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Covid-19 National Survey Dashboard. Accessed October 1, 2022. Available from: https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-health-and-covid-19/covid-19-national-survey
Baxter, A. J., Scott, K. M., Vos, et al. Global prevalence of anxiety disorders: a systematic review and meta-regression. Psychol Med. 2013 May; 43(5), 897-910.
Bandelow, B, Reitt M, Röver C ,et al. "Efficacy of treatments for anxiety disorders: a meta-analysis." Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 2015; Jul;30(4):183-92. doi: 10.1097/YIC.0000000000000078
Katzman, M.A., Bleau, P., Blier, P. et al. Canadian clinical practice guidelines for the management of anxiety, posttraumatic stress and obsessive-compulsive disorders. BMC Psychiatry. 2014; 14 (Suppl 1), S1 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-14-S1-S1
Gum, A. M., King-Kallimanis, B., & Kohn, R. Prevalence of mood, anxiety, and substance-abuse disorders for older Americans in the national comorbidity survey-replication. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2009; Sep;17(9):769-81. doi: 10.1097/JGP.0b013e3181ad4f5a
Bryant, C., Jackson, H., & Ames, D. The prevalence of anxiety in older adults: methodological issues and a review of the literature. J Affect Disord. 2008; Aug;109(3):233-50. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2007.11.008. Epub 2007 Dec 26.
Wetherell, J. L., Lenze, E. J., & Stanley, M. A. (2005). Evidence-based treatment of geriatric anxiety disorders. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2005; Dec;28(4):871-96, ix. doi: 10.1016/j.psc.2005.09.006. PMID: 16325733.
Wolitzky‐Taylor, K. B., Castriotta, N., Lenze, et al. Anxiety disorders in older adults: a comprehensive review. Depress Anxiety. 2010; 27(2), 190-211. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.20653
Healthy Quality Ontario. Anxiety Disorders: Suggestions on what to discuss with your health care providers to help you receive high-quality care. Toronto (ON): Queen’s Printer for Ontario; 2020. Available from: https://www.hqontario.ca/Portals/0/documents/evidence/quality-standards/qs-anxiety-disorders-patient-guide-en.pdf
Curtiss, J. E., Levine, D. S., Ander, I., et al. Cognitive-Behavioral Treatments for Anxiety and Stress-Related Disorders. Focus. 2021 Jun; 19(2), 184-189. doi: 10.1176/appi.focus.20200045
Olatunji, B. O., Cisler, J. M., & Deacon, B. J. Efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders: a review of meta-analytic findings. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2010 Sep;33(3):557-77. doi: 10.1016/j.psc.2010.04.002
Kaczkurkin, A. N., & Foa, E. B. (2022). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders: an update on the empirical evidence. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2015 Sep;17(3):337-46. doi: 10.31887/DCNS.2015.17.3/akaczkurkin
Hall, J., Kellett, S., Berrios, R., et al. Efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy for generalized anxiety disorder in older adults: systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2016 Nov;24(11):1063-1073. doi: 10.1016/j.jagp.2016.06.006
Palazzolo J. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Depression and Anxiety in the Elderly. Ann Depress. Anxiety. 2015; 2(6): 1063
Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program. Updated September 27, 2022. Accessed October 1, 2022. https://www.ontariohealth.ca/about-us/our-programs/clinical-quality-programs/mental-health-addictions/programs-resources

DISCLAIMER: These summaries are provided for informational purposes only. They are not a substitute for advice from your own health care professional. The summaries may be reproduced for not-for-profit educational purposes only. Any other uses must be approved by the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal (info@mcmasteroptimalaging.org).

Many of our Blog Posts were written before the COVID-19 pandemic and thus do not necessarily reflect the latest public health recommendations. While the content of new and old blogs identify activities that support optimal aging, it is important to defer to the most current public health recommendations. Some of the activities suggested within these blogs may need to be modified or avoided altogether to comply with changing public health recommendations. To view the latest updates from the Public Health Agency of Canada, please visit their website.

Want the latest in aging research? Sign up for our email alerts.

Our Content

About

Support for the Portal is largely provided by the Labarge Optimal Aging Initiative. AGE-WELL is a contributing partner. Help us to continue to provide direct and easy access to evidence-based information on health and social conditions to help you stay healthy, active and engaged as you grow older. Donate Today.