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. 2013 Aug;20(3):282-300.
doi: 10.1016/j.cbpra.2013.02.001.

Emotion Regulation Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder

David M Fresco  1 , Douglas S Mennin  2 , Richard G Heimberg  3 , Michael Ritter  4
Affiliations

Emotion Regulation Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder

David M Fresco et al. Cogn Behav Pract. 2013 Aug.

Abstract

Despite the success of cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) for emotional disorders, a sizable subgroup of patients with complex clinical presentations, such as patients with generalized anxiety disorder, fails to evidence adequate treatment response. Emotion Regulation Therapy (ERT) integrates facets of traditional and contemporary CBTs, mindfulness, and emotion-focused interventions within a framework that reflects basic and translational findings in affect science. Specifically, ERT is a mechanism-targeted intervention focusing on patterns of motivational dysfunction while cultivating emotion regulation skills. Open and randomized controlled psychotherapy trials have demonstrated considerable preliminary evidence for the utility of this approach as well as for the underlying proposed mechanisms. This article provides an illustration of ERT through the case of "William." In particular, this article includes a case-conceptualization of William from an ERT perspective while describing the flow and progression of the ERT treatment approach.

Keywords: cognitive behavior therapy; emotion regulation; generalized anxiety disorder; mindfulness.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The ERT treatment model showing the conceptual progression of treatment.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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