Cognitive Therapy for Panic Disorder

In "Cognitive Therapy for Panic Disorder", Dr. David M. Clark demonstrates a brief therapy for alleviating this debilitating anxiety disorder.

Dr. Clark's approach is based on the idea that panic attacks are frequently the result of misinterpreting normal bodily sensations as a sign of an impending physical or mental catastrophe (such as a heart attack or going mad).

The misinterpretation generates a feedback effect in which anxiety, physical symptoms, and negative thoughts reinforce each other.

Several cognitive - behavioral techniques can help clients challenge their misinterpretations of bodily sensations.

In this session, Dr. Clark works with a 38-year-old man who has experienced repeated panic attacks surrounding recurring sensations that he interprets as a heart attack.

This video features a client portrayed by an actor on the basis of actual case material.