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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) + −
Also known as ACT, this type of therapy uses strategies of acceptance and mindfulness (living in the moment and experiencing things without judgment), along with commitment and behavior change, as a way to cope with unwanted thoughts, feelings, and sensations. ACT imparts skills to accept these experiences, place them in a different context, develop greater clarity about personal values, and commit to needed behavior change.
To learn more in-depth about Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and other treatments, check out ADAA's Patient Guide to Mood and Anxiety Disorders.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) + −
Integrating cognitive-behavioral techniques with concepts from Eastern meditation, dialectical behavioral therapy, or DBT, combines acceptance and change. DBT involves individual and group therapy to learn mindfulness, as well as skills for interpersonal effectiveness, tolerating distress, and regulating emotions.
To learn more in-depth about Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and other treatments, check out ADAA's Patient Guide to Mood and Anxiety Disorders.
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) + −
Often referred to as IPT, interpersonal therapy is a short-term supportive psychotherapy that addresses interpersonal issues in depression in adults, adolescents, and older adults. IPT usually involves 12 to 16 one-hour weekly sessions. The initial sessions are devoted to gathering information about the nature of a person’s depression and interpersonal experience.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is a type of therapy that can help you heal from past life events that impact you in the present. Utilizing bilateral stimulation, through eye movements, tapping, and/or tones, EMDR taps into a natural healing process in our brain that helps to “unlock” distressing memories. In doing so, it reduces the overall emotional and physical distress connected to a memory and shifts a negative belief to an adaptive belief. Research supports the effectiveness of EMDR as a therapy to target past traumatic and distressing experiences.
- Check out this article: Considering EMDR Therapy? What to Expect.
- Read more about EMDR from the National Center for PTSD
To learn more in-depth about Interpersonal Therapy and other treatments, check out ADAA's Patient Guide to Mood and Anxiety Disorders.
Treatments Under Study + −
Inference-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT)
I-CBT was created by Dr. Stephen P. Shuchter in the 1980s, primarily for the treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). I-CBT is a treatment based on the central idea that obsessions are abnormal doubts about what “could be”, or “might be” (e.g. “I might have left the stove on”; “I might be contaminated”; “I might be a deviant”).
I-CBT’s approach emphasizes identifying core beliefs and underlying assumptions that are associated with OCD and reframing them in a more positive manner to facilitate recovery. Learn more.
ADAA Blog:
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) + −
Transcranial magnetic stimulation, known as TMS or rTMS, may be a safe, effective, and noninvasive option for people who have depression that has not improved with medications. TMS creates a magnetic field to induce a small electric current in a specific part of the brain; the current comes from the magnetic field created by an electromagnetic coil that delivers pulses through the scalp. TMS is an FDA-approved treatment and recently (June 2019), the Brainsway Deep TMS device was approved for the treatment of OCD. There is ongoing research on the use of TMS to treat PTSD and other mental health conditions.
TMS does not require sedation, is non-invasive and is virtually pain-free. With modern safety techniques, there is a less than 0.1% risk of seizure or loss of consciousness with TMS. Those receiving TMS usually are treated four or five times every week for four to six weeks. Research shows that TMS produces few side effects. Each treatment session lasts about 40 minutes. A new form of TMS called theta burst stimulation was recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of depression; sessions of theta burst stimulation last only about 10 minutes but still are provided daily for several weeks.
To find out if TMS is the right treatment for you, speak to your therapist, doctor, or other mental health treatment provider. Your insurance may provide reimbursement for this treatment.
To learn more in-depth about Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and other treatments, check out ADAA's Patient Guide to Mood and Anxiety Disorders.
Learn more about the different types of TMS here.
ADAA Resources + −
- How to Navigate the Transition to a New Therapist - blog
- “Is This All My Fault?” Addressing the Myth that CBT Blames People for Their Problems - blog
- Dispelling the Stigma Surrounding Psychotherapy - blog
- Find Your Therapist Directory - Search the directory of licensed ADAA mental health providers members who specialize in anxiety disorders, depression, OCD, PTSD, and related disorders.
- 5 Tips to Learn if an Anxiety Therapist is the Right Fit for You - blog page
- Learn about different types of mental health care professionals Website page
- Residential Treatment for Youth with OCD: Answers to Your Top 3 Questions, Webinar
- Can CBT Help with Neurological Disorders? Webinar
- Overcoming Social Anxiety: Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) to Build Self-Confidence and Lessen Self-Consciousness Webinar
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Tinnitus Distress Webinar
- Helping Kids and Teens Who Have OCD Webinar
- Taking the Terror Out of Terrorism: How CBT Can Relieve Your Anxiety Webinar
- What Is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and How Is It Used to Treat Anxiety and Depression? Webinar
- So You've Decided to Start Therapy for Your Anxiety: Here's How to Make it Work Blog
- Important Questions for Your Therapist and Insurance Carrier Infographic
Anxiety disorders and depression are treatable. Many people experience meaningful symptom relief and improvement in their quality of life with professional care. However, treatment success varies. Some people respond to treatment after a few weeks or months while others may take longer. If people have more than one anxiety disorder or if they suffer from other co-existing conditions, treatment may take longer. An experienced provider will conduct a comprehensive assessment before discussing an individualized treatment plan. Download our Therapy Options Guide infographic.
To learn more in-depth about different types of therapy and treatments, check out ADAA's Patient Guide to Mood and Anxiety Disorders.
Types of Therapy
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) + −
A well-established, highly effective, and lasting treatment is called cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT. It focuses on identifying, understanding, and changing thinking and behavior patterns. Benefits are usually seen in 12 to 16 weeks, depending on the individual.
In this type of therapy the patient is actively involved in his or her own recovery, has a sense of control, and learns skills that are useful throughout life. CBT typically involves reading about the problem, keeping records between appointments, and completing homework assignments in which the treatment procedures are practiced. Patients learn skills during therapy sessions, but they must practice repeatedly to see improvement.
- Watch ADAA's Video on CBT.
- Download our What is CBT? infographic.
- The Wisdom of Cognitve Behavioral Therapy (CBT): The Perfect Gift for New Moms
Check out four helpful evidence- based videos produced by the Washington University Pediatric & Adolescent Ambulatory Research Consortium, Washington University Medical School. The videos feature ADAA member Melanie Van Dyke, PhD. The videos cover: Evidence-based Therapy for Adolescent Depression, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Selecting a CBT Therapist and How to Know if Therapy is Working.
To learn more in-depth about Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and other treatments, check out ADAA's Patient Guide to Mood and Anxiety Disorders.
ADAA blogs:
Exposure Therapy + −
A form of CBT, exposure therapy is a process for reducing fear and anxiety responses. In therapy, a person is gradually exposed to a feared situation or object, learning to become less sensitive over time. This type of therapy has been found to be particularly effective for obsessive-compulsive disorder and phobias.
Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRE)*
VRE is a type of exposure therapy that uses virtual reality (i.e., interactive computer-generated simulations) to present the patient with stimuli for exposure therapy with a therapist. Exposure therapy helps people confront what they fear in a therapeutic manner so that the fear decreases. VRE has the advantage of being able to present situations that may be difficult to arrange in real life, for example, flying on an airplane for someone with the fear of flying. The therapist can exactly control the VRE stimuli to create the perfect exposure for that patient, for example, making sure there is no turbulence until the patient is ready for turbulence. Research supports VRE for PTSD, social anxiety, and specific phobias (e.g., fear of heights and flying).
The virtual reality system is just a tool used within VRE – it is not the therapy. Patients interested in VRE should not be directed toward equipment but rather clinicians trained in VRE and explore how VRE might provide additional benefits over conventional exposure therapy.
Q. What questions should a patient ask his/her doctor or clinician about what virtual reality tool might help their disorder?
- What is my diagnosis? What is the evidence for virtual reality exposure therapy for this problem? What is your experience using virtual reality exposure therapy for this problem?
Q. How do I know the tool is working for me?
- If your provider is practicing evidence-based care, they will assess your symptoms and progress using questionnaires or other evaluations throughout treatment. Hopefully, you will notice improvement, usually in experiencing less anxiety and less avoidance.
To learn more in-depth about Exposure Therapy and other treatments, check out ADAA's Patient Guide to Mood and Anxiety Disorders.
Trending Article:
- How virtual reality can help address the mental health professional shortage, Go Science, Risa Weisberg, PhD
#VRE content authored by Barbara O. Rothbaum, PhD, ABPP and Andrew Sherill, PhD
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) + −
Also known as ACT, this type of therapy uses strategies of acceptance and mindfulness (living in the moment and experiencing things without judgment), along with commitment and behavior change, as a way to cope with unwanted thoughts, feelings, and sensations. ACT imparts skills to accept these experiences, place them in a different context, develop greater clarity about personal values, and commit to needed behavior change.
To learn more in-depth about Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and other treatments, check out ADAA's Patient Guide to Mood and Anxiety Disorders.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) + −
Integrating cognitive-behavioral techniques with concepts from Eastern meditation, dialectical behavioral therapy, or DBT, combines acceptance and change. DBT involves individual and group therapy to learn mindfulness, as well as skills for interpersonal effectiveness, tolerating distress, and regulating emotions.
To learn more in-depth about Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and other treatments, check out ADAA's Patient Guide to Mood and Anxiety Disorders.
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) + −
Often referred to as IPT, interpersonal therapy is a short-term supportive psychotherapy that addresses interpersonal issues in depression in adults, adolescents, and older adults. IPT usually involves 12 to 16 one-hour weekly sessions. The initial sessions are devoted to gathering information about the nature of a person’s depression and interpersonal experience.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is a type of therapy that can help you heal from past life events that impact you in the present. Utilizing bilateral stimulation, through eye movements, tapping, and/or tones, EMDR taps into a natural healing process in our brain that helps to “unlock” distressing memories. In doing so, it reduces the overall emotional and physical distress connected to a memory and shifts a negative belief to an adaptive belief. Research supports the effectiveness of EMDR as a therapy to target past traumatic and distressing experiences.
- Check out this article: Considering EMDR Therapy? What to Expect.
- Read more about EMDR from the National Center for PTSD
To learn more in-depth about Interpersonal Therapy and other treatments, check out ADAA's Patient Guide to Mood and Anxiety Disorders.
Treatments Under Study + −
Inference-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT)
I-CBT was created by Dr. Stephen P. Shuchter in the 1980s, primarily for the treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). I-CBT is a treatment based on the central idea that obsessions are abnormal doubts about what “could be”, or “might be” (e.g. “I might have left the stove on”; “I might be contaminated”; “I might be a deviant”).
I-CBT’s approach emphasizes identifying core beliefs and underlying assumptions that are associated with OCD and reframing them in a more positive manner to facilitate recovery. Learn more.
ADAA Blog:
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) + −
Transcranial magnetic stimulation, known as TMS or rTMS, may be a safe, effective, and noninvasive option for people who have depression that has not improved with medications. TMS creates a magnetic field to induce a small electric current in a specific part of the brain; the current comes from the magnetic field created by an electromagnetic coil that delivers pulses through the scalp. TMS is an FDA-approved treatment and recently (June 2019), the Brainsway Deep TMS device was approved for the treatment of OCD. There is ongoing research on the use of TMS to treat PTSD and other mental health conditions.
TMS does not require sedation, is non-invasive and is virtually pain-free. With modern safety techniques, there is a less than 0.1% risk of seizure or loss of consciousness with TMS. Those receiving TMS usually are treated four or five times every week for four to six weeks. Research shows that TMS produces few side effects. Each treatment session lasts about 40 minutes. A new form of TMS called theta burst stimulation was recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of depression; sessions of theta burst stimulation last only about 10 minutes but still are provided daily for several weeks.
To find out if TMS is the right treatment for you, speak to your therapist, doctor, or other mental health treatment provider. Your insurance may provide reimbursement for this treatment.
To learn more in-depth about Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and other treatments, check out ADAA's Patient Guide to Mood and Anxiety Disorders.
Learn more about the different types of TMS here.
ADAA Resources + −
- How to Navigate the Transition to a New Therapist - blog
- “Is This All My Fault?” Addressing the Myth that CBT Blames People for Their Problems - blog
- Dispelling the Stigma Surrounding Psychotherapy - blog
- Find Your Therapist Directory - Search the directory of licensed ADAA mental health providers members who specialize in anxiety disorders, depression, OCD, PTSD, and related disorders.
- 5 Tips to Learn if an Anxiety Therapist is the Right Fit for You - blog page
- Learn about different types of mental health care professionals Website page
- Residential Treatment for Youth with OCD: Answers to Your Top 3 Questions, Webinar
- Can CBT Help with Neurological Disorders? Webinar
- Overcoming Social Anxiety: Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) to Build Self-Confidence and Lessen Self-Consciousness Webinar
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Tinnitus Distress Webinar
- Helping Kids and Teens Who Have OCD Webinar
- Taking the Terror Out of Terrorism: How CBT Can Relieve Your Anxiety Webinar
- What Is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and How Is It Used to Treat Anxiety and Depression? Webinar
- So You've Decided to Start Therapy for Your Anxiety: Here's How to Make it Work Blog
- Important Questions for Your Therapist and Insurance Carrier Infographic
- Anxiety Medication Guide for Parents, AACAP.org, written by ADAA member John Walkup, MD
- 2020 Children's Mental Health Report by Child Mind Institute (ADAA Partner)
- 2019 Children's Mental Health Report by Child Mind Institute (ADAA Partner)
- Anxiety in Teens is Rising - What's Going On? HealthyChildren.org
- Behavioral Health Programs for Older Adults, National Council on Aging
- The State of Mental Health and Aging in America, CDC.gov
- Older Adults and Mental Health, NIMH.gov
- Depression and the LGBTQ+ Elder Community - from Depression Looks Like Me
- NIMH Shareable Resources on Coping with COVID-19
- SAMHSA Resources for Older Adults
- MHA Anxiety In Older Adults
- National Council on Aging (NCOA) 7 Tips for Managing Your Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Trending Articles
- Why You May Benefit From an Anxiety Screening, ADAA member, Karen Cassiday, PhD
- How to help Asian American seniors affected by the mass shootings, Los Angeles Times
- This Is What Depression Can Feel Like, AARP
- Naomi Judd’s death and the unique mental health challenges older adults face, Today
- 4 ways that older people can bolster or improve their mental health, WashingtonPost
- Be Not Afraid: Hope and Help for Your Phobias, Next Avenue
- Alzheimer's May Start Sooner for People With Anxiety, Depression History, MedPage Today
- Why Don't Seniors with Depression Get Treatment?, Forbes
- Loneliness - A Leading Cause of Depression in Older Adults, Medical Express
- Senior Living: How Depression Can Manifest Itself Later in Life, San Bernardino Sun
- Depression and Alzheimer’s, Harvard Medical School
- PTSD in Late Life, Psychiatric Times
Discussing Medications: What You Need to Know + −
Use these guidelines to talk to your health care professional about medications:
- To avoid potentially dangerous drug interactions, let your mental health care provider know all medications you are taking, including prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs, herbal or dietary supplements, and vitamins. And make sure your family doctor knows you are taking medications for an anxiety disorder.
- Learn when to take a new medication and how, such as on any empty stomach or with food, in the morning or evening, and how frequently.
- Find out how long it should take for the medication to start working and what you should expect when this happens.
- Ask: How will the medication help me? What side effects might occur? Should I avoid any foods or beverages? Are drug interactions with other prescriptions a possibility? How often you should see the doctor for a medication check-up?
- Ask for the prescribing physician’s after-hours phone number in case you develop side effects.
- A good source of information about medications and over-the-counter products is your pharmacist, who should have information about all your prescriptions to advise you about possible drug interactions, side effects, and instructions for use.
If your physician does not want to spend the time to answer your questions, you may need a referral to a different physician.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) + −
SSRIs relieve symptoms by blocking the reabsorption, or reuptake, of serotonin by certain nerve cells in the brain. This leaves more serotonin available, which improves mood. SSRIs (citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine, and sertraline) generally produced fewer side effects when compared with tricyclic antidepressants. However, common side effects include insomnia or sleepiness, sexual dysfunction, and weight gain. They are considered an effective treatment for all anxiety disorders, although the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, typically requires higher doses. Read this blog about SSRIs and Benzodiazepines.
To learn more in-depth about Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), check out ADAA's Patient Guide to Mood and Anxiety Disorders.
Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) + −
The serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, or SNRI, class (venlafaxine and duloxetine) is notable for a dual mechanism of action: increasing the levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine by inhibiting their reabsorption into cells in the brain. As with other medications, side effects may occur, including stomach upset, insomnia, headache, sexual dysfunction, weight gain and minor increase in blood pressure. These medications are considered as effective as SSRIs, so they are also considered a first-line treatment for the treatment of anxiety disorders, but not for obsessive compulsive disorder, where SSRI’s are the preferred first line treatment.
To learn more in-depth about Selective Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs), check out ADAA's Patient Guide to Mood and Anxiety Disorders.