Self-administered Behavioural Treatment

Abstract

The growing sophistication of behavioural psychotherapy is indicated by the progressive easing of service delivery for anxiety disorders. This is attained by emphasis on the patient doing systematic self-exposure and recording details of tasks completed in daily exposure homework diary sheets. Therapist-accompanied exposure is now known to be largely redundant. The clinician's chief role is to assess, guide and monitor progress and teach relapse prevention, rather than to be with the patient during exposure. A similar self-management model could develop for the relief of sexual, depressive and eating disorders. Further advance is needed to shorten the time and effort needed from sufferers to help themselves.