Cognitive - Behavioral Interventions in Depressive - Anxiety Disorder Case Study

• Author: Neaga Susanu
• Position: Senior Lecturer, PhD, Danubius University of Galasi, Faculty of Communication and International Relations, Danubius University of Galati, Romania
• Pages: 334-341

European Integration - Realities and Perspectives. Proceedings 2019

334

New Trends in Psychology

Cognitive- Behavioral Interventions

in Depressive-Anxiety Disorder. Case Study

Susanu Neaga1

Abstract: In this paper I used methods specific to cognitive-behavioural psychotherapy in solving a case of

depressive-anxiety disorder with panic attacks. Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is a form of pr oblem-

focussed psychotherapy, with obvious results centred on ameliorating or curing neuropsychotic (nervous

diseases) or psychosomatic symptoms (relating to the mental origin of certai n diseases). After a nine -seat

sessions, the patient’s condition is greatly improved, panic attacks decreased as frequency and intensity. I have

noticed in my patient’s evolution th at depressive symptomatology has been reduced by r educing the anxiety

symptoms. I told him that there might be panic attacks, but that this is irrelevant to the idea of reoccurrence of

the anxiety disorder. It is good to interpret the possible panic attack as an event from which to learn something

- to analyze it, to think about what it has caused.

Keywords: Depression; anxiety; panic attacks; rational/irrational beliefs; cognition; behaviour; self-confidence

Introduction

Psychotherapy is based on the assumption that, even in the case of a somatic pathology, the way the

individual will perceive and evaluate his condition as well as the adaptive strategies he uses, plays a role

in the evolution of the disorder, and these strategies will need to be modified if we want the disease to

evolve favourably. Based on any psychotherapy is the belief that people with psychological problems

have the ability to change by learning new strategies to perceive, evaluate and behave.

According to psychology specialists, Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (TCC) is a problem-focused form

of psychotherapy with obvious results centred on alleviating or curing neuropsychological (nervous

diseases) or psychosomatic symptoms (on the mental origin of some diseases).

This psychotherapeutic school combines two therapies: cognitive and behavioural.

In the cognitive-behavioural therapy, special emphasis is given to cognitive and attitude restructuring

techniques. The basic principle of therapy starts from the fact that the way a person behaves is

determined, first of all, by the way that person interprets the immediate situations. I will present a case

study in which I have used methods and techniques in the field of cognitive-behavioural psychotherapy.

1 Senior Lecturer, PhD, Danubius Uni versity of Galați, Faculty of Communication and International Relations, Danubius

University of Galati, Romania, Address: 3 Galati Blvd., Galati 800654, Romania, Tel .: +40372361102, Corresponding author:

neli_susanu@univ-danubius. ro.