C

The ABC of CBT

Audience: patient
Focus on PANIC DISORDER

What is CBT?
Cognitive behavioural therapy are brief therapy aiming to
replace negative thought and harmful behaviour by
thought and behaviour more realistic or helpful.
Examples :
1.Dealing with anxious thought: persistant worry about
consequences (eg worry about having heart attack,
losing control, or going crazy)
2.Dealing with behavioural symptomes : avoiding
unfamiliar situations or exercise in order to avoid attacks)

What condition can be help by

CBT?
Panic disorder
Anxiety disorder
Phobia
Depression
Eating disorder eg bulimia
OCD (Obsessive compulsive disorder)
The most specific is the problem , the more likely CBT help

What is happening during a

course of CBT?
Duration: Each session last between 30 to 60 min over 10 to 15 weeks
(once a week)
First session: aim to share understanding of the problem and identify the
negative thought or harmful behaviour that affect your life
During the session the patient is encouraged and guided to change
progressively his negative or harmful behaviour with specific exercise
performed during and between session.
In panic disorder there will have 3 specific target:
Psychoeducation and management of physical symptoms of anxiety
Dealing with anxious thoughts
Dealing with behavioural symptoms

What is the difference between

CBT and other therapy?
CBT is different from other talking therapy
You will not be ask to talk freely , to explore deeply
past events
CBT tends to explore your current thoughts process
and analyses the behaviour which affect you today
CBT has a particular structure to help you to
overcome difficult thoughts and behaviours

Psychoeducation and management

of physical symptoms of anxiety
Psychoeducation about :
Anxiety and fight or flight response
Anxiety and hyperventillation
Common myths about anxiety symptoms (heart attacks,
fainting, loosing control, going crazy)
Management of physical symptoms:
Control of hyperventillation (Breathing and Relaxation training)

Dealing with anxious thoughts

STEP 1: IDENTIFY anxiety-provoking thoughts
STEP 2: CHALLENGE unhelpful anxiety-provoking thoughts
STEP 3: GENERATE realistic, more helpful alternatives
Common anxiety-provoking thoughts
1. Overestimating the chance of panic
2. Exaggerating the feared consequences of panic
3. Underestimate your ability to cope
4. Misinterpreting normal and anxiety-related physical sensations

Dealing with behavioural

symptoms
Some everyday activities may cause physical sensations that individuals with
panic disorder may
misinterpret as signs of impending panic. Some individuals may develop an
avoidance of certain
activities because they produce sensations that are frightening.
Your therapist will help you to idenfy the not helpful behaviour and
progressively teach you how to control your anxiety and cope with the
situation

Take home message

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) aims to help you to
change the way that you feel, think, and behave.
The most specific is the problem , the more likely CBT help as it
is a pratical therapy focus on overcoming particular problem
Psychoeducation about panic disorder and management of
physical symptoms of anxiety
Dealing with anxious thoughts
Dealing with behavioural symptoms , Gradual exposure to
avoided situation