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This text by Aaron Beck and his colleagues is a comprehensive and readable volume which is the first book of its kind devoted to an understanding of the theory and practice of cognitive therapy in relation to anxiety. It should be stressed at the outset of this review that the book is based on the ideas and clinical experiences of Beck and his colleagues in developing their particular view of cognitive therapy. It is not a text which draws particularly upon the observations of other cognitive therapists (e.g. Donald Meichenbaum) and does not attempt to develop an overview of a variety of cognitive approaches. Essentially this book is an outgrowth of the work of Beck and his co-therapists and researchers at the Centres for Cognitive Therapy in Philadelphia and California.
It is now well accepted that Aaron Beck was the major proponent in developing a cognitive understanding of the treatment of Depression. His clinical expertise and strategies for intervention with Depression has received some considerable research evaluation and there is an accepted school of therapists who focus on using concepts developed by Beck to help in the treatment of Depression. For those therapists familiar with is work on Depression this present text on Anxiety will be a welcome adjunct to their therapeutic arsenal. In particular since it is common clinical practice to meet patients who present with combinations of problems of a Depressive/Anxious nature then this present volume is especially welcome.
The authors set themselves two major tasks. The first is to attempt to explain the nature of anxiety by understanding it from a cognitive perspective. This section of the book is written by Aaron Beck and draws upon a variety of research and theoretical views on anxiety to explain the concept in cognitive terms. The second task is to provide guidelines for the treatment of the condition. This section is written by Dr. Emery and gives an overview of strategies used in the alleviation of anxiety