Psychoanalysis for Anxiety

Most research on psychotherapy for anxiety problems including Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) focus on Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Part of the reason CBT is studied as opposed to other therapies likes Psychoanalysis (classic talk therapy that explores the unconscious, increases personal awareness, and is less focused on specific symptom relief) is because it was developed to be easily testable. However, a new study described in the New York Times has shown that Psychoanalysis was highly effective in treatment Panic Disorder. Although Panic Disorder and GAD are quite different, this study may represent a coming wave of research evidence that Psychoanalysis is an effective treatment for anxiety disorders including GAD.