The neural correlates of cognitive behavioral therapy: recent progress in the investigation of patients with panic disorder

Abstract

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment for mental disorders. Several meta-analytical reviews supported its efficacy and effectiveness in the treatment of panic disorder with agoraphobia (PD/AG). Recently, it has been shown that neurobiological changes are associated with the process and outcome of CBT. However, the general and specific neurobiological effects of CBT are still widely unknown. Therefore, the potential of applying neuroscience to clinical practice and optimizing CBT is still limited. The current review summarizes recent findings about the neural correlates of CBT in PD/AG measured with fMRI. Furthermore, the current review will focus on neural activation patterns predicting and moderating therapeutic success of CBT, due to its potential application in personalized treatment in the future. Finally, we will discuss some future perspectives of the neurosciences in CBT research.

Keywords: Exposure-based cognitive behavior therapy; Mechanism of action; Moderator; Neural correlates; Outcome prediction; Panic disorder with agoraphobia; fMRI.