Application of cognitive behaviour therapy in GAD: A clinical case study in the socio-cultural context of West Bengal

Pages: 1246-1249
Rashmi Rai and Soheli Datta (Department of Applied Psychology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata)

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is one of the most practiced forms of psychotherapies for the treatment of patients suffering from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The beliefs, or dysfunctional assumptions, which are involved in generalized anxiety, are highly varied and mostly resolve around issues of acceptance, responsibility, and the symptoms of anxiety themselves. Dysfunctional assumptions and rules are general beliefs which individuals hold about the world and themselves which are said to make them prone to interpret specific situations in an excessively negative and dysfunctional fashion. CBT in GAD involves cognitive techniques to address worry and cognitive biases and relaxation to address tension, as well as imagined exposure to catastrophic images and exposure to stressful situations while response preventing overly cautious behaviors. The present case study is an attempt to provide CBT to a 28 years old client suffering from GAD. He was treated using cognitive behavioral techniques. The purpose of using CBT includes presence of marked cognitive distortions, presence of significant anxiety of the client about current problems, was amenable to the use of verbal challenging and logical thinking required for psychotherapy. Focus was made in reduction of the level of anxiety and distress by modification of dysfunctional appraisals and beliefs, correction of negative self- evaluation and cognitive errors, enabling restore self- worth and maintenance of logical pattern of thinking. The sessions include assessments, psycho-education, cognitive restructuring and relaxation training. The therapy aimed at decreasing somatic symptoms through sessions on relaxation, increasing confidence to initiate conversations with others. Findings suggest that there has been reduction in negative affect, decease in anxiousness and decrease in negative belief about worry and increase in the need for controlling worry and cognitive confidence. Key ingredients to treatment success included fidelity with flexibility in implementing CBT treatment, attention to individual and cultural factors; the use of creative strategies for carrying out the underlying theoretical principles of the treatment. The study highlights the efficacy of CBT in the present socio-cultural context and how deviations from pre- determined therapy structure, based on western culture, was involved to bring about a favorable outcome in the client.