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Contemporary Treatment Approaches for Anxiety Disorders

Who is this course for?

This course is suitable for health professionals such as mental health clinicians, nurses, social workers, psychologists, counsellors, marriage and family therapists, psychiatrists, schoolteachers, occupational therapists and consultants

Who offers the course?

Discipline of Psychiatry

Level of assumed/required knowledge

There are no specific degrees or course requirements for this course but mental health work experience is beneficial

Course overview

Anxiety disorders cause significant impairment and disability, and the direct and indirect cost associated with untreated anxiety disorders is high. Effective pharmacological and non-pharmacological evidence-based treatments are available for these disorders. In this course, participants will learn about these treatments, including behaviour therapy, cognitive therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy and pharmacotherapy.

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to decide which treatment approach to use when helping people with anxiety disorders, plan the treatment accordingly and control the treatment process. Participants will gain a deep understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of these treatment approaches as well as their evidence base. When participants return to their workplace, they will be able to apply the knowledge gained from this course when helping people with anxiety disorders. For those who want to become specialised in treating anxiety disorders, this course will serve as a strong foundation for their further skill development under clinical supervision.

The course will cover the following topics:

Behavioural Therapy

  • Principles of exposure-based treatment
  • Imaginal exposure
  • In vivo exposure
  • Evidence base for behavioural therapy

Cognitive Therapy

  • Identifying cognitive distortions
  • Challenging cognitive distortions
  • Managing rumination and worry
  • Evidence base for cognitive therapy

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

  • Behavioural experiments
  • Clinical examples of psychological treatments
  • Evidence base for CBT
  • Web-based treatments for anxiety: availability and evidence base

Pharmacoptherapy

  • How to use medications in anxiety disorders
  • Medications that work and how to choose between them
  • Benzodiazepines and anxiety disorders
  • Combining medications and cognitive-behavioural treatments

Course duration

8 hours in total over a Friday and Saturday afternoon

How is this course assessed?

Examination paper for self-assessment will be provided

Can this course contribute to an academic degree?

No

Course delivery

This course will be delivered in a classroom setting using peer-reviewed and evidence-based course materials. The trainers of this course are editors of the course materials. The development of course materials received financial support from NHMRC funded Centre for Clinical Research Excellence in Anxiety and Neuroscience.

Professionally designed PowerPoint slides and case study video clips will be used in the training. Active input from the participants is expected. Course outline, PowerPoint slides and examination paper (for self-evaluation) will be provided to participants in printed format.

Course cost

$400 per participant (GST exempt)

Course dates

Intake 1

3 May 2013 (1:00pm-5:00pm)
4 May 2013 (1:00pm-5:00pm)

Intake 2

5 July 2013 (1:00pm-5:00pm)
6 July 2013 (1:00pm-5:00pm)

Intake 3

6 September 2013 (1:00pm-5:00pm)
7 September 2013 (1:00pm-5:00pm)

Intake 4

1 November 2013 (1:00pm-5:00pm)
2 November 2013 (1:00pm-5:00pm)

Is this course accredited for CME points?

No

Further information and enrolment

To enrol in the course, please visit the Centre for Continuing Education.

Contact person/Course coordinator

Richard He
T: 02 9845 7798
E:

Last updated

December 2012