Anxiety Disorders & CBT Protocols Flashcards

A client completes an exposure task but reports no anxiety reduction. The BEST CBT response is to:

Answer: Explore whether safety behaviors or distraction prevented full engagement with the feared stimulus

Lack of anxiety response during exposure often signals covert safety behaviors or distraction; identifying and removing these is essential before concluding exposure is ineffective.

Which of the following best describes inhibitory learning theory's contribution to exposure therapy?

Answer: Exposure creates a new non-threatening memory that competes with the original fear memory

Inhibitory learning theory posits that exposure creates a new inhibitory memory (CS-no-US) that competes with the original fear memory rather than erasing it.

A CBT therapist uses 'motivational enhancement' before initiating ERP for OCD. This is because:

Answer: ERP is highly effortful and distressing, and ambivalence predicts dropout and non-compliance

ERP demands willingness to experience significant discomfort; assessing and strengthening motivation reduces dropout and increases engagement with the difficult treatment.

When applying CBT to Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) within the first month post-trauma, the primary goal is to:

Answer: Deliver brief trauma-focused CBT to treat ASD symptoms and reduce PTSD risk

Brief trauma-focused CBT (typically 5–8 sessions) is the recommended treatment for ASD and has been shown to prevent progression to PTSD.

The 'cognitive triad' in Beck's cognitive theory describes the negative views a depressed person holds about:

Answer: Themselves, their experiences, and their future

Beck's cognitive triad comprises negative views about oneself, ongoing experiences (the world), and the future, forming the cognitive core of depression.

Which statement about the relationship between anxiety sensitivity and Panic Disorder is most accurate?

Answer: High anxiety sensitivity predisposes individuals to fear bodily sensations, increasing panic risk

Anxiety sensitivity—the fear of anxiety-related sensations due to beliefs about their harm—is a key cognitive risk factor for developing and maintaining Panic Disorder.

In CBT for Specific Phobia, the therapist models approaching the feared object before the client attempts exposure. This technique is known as:

Answer: Participant modeling (guided participation)

Participant modeling involves the therapist demonstrating approach behavior with the feared object, then guiding the client through the same steps, enhancing self-efficacy.