Bridging the gap between biological and psychological perspectives in the treatment of anxiety disorders

The applicability and usefulness of behavioural and cognitive treatment app roaches for anxiety disorders is now well established. Various and differen t theoretical mechanisms have been proposed to explain their therapeutic ef fects on anxiety. Today's research suggests that the psychological variable s mediating change in behavioural and cognitive therapy for anxiety disorde rs are similar. Furthermore, the effects of drug and psychological treatmen t for anxiety disorders appear to be mediated by the same psychological and neurobiochemical variables. It is postulated that a better understanding o f the interaction between these variables will lead to new, significant adv ances in the treatment of anxiety disorders.