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4 - Anxiety

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 March 2023

By
Dean McKay
Edited by
Stephen Hupp  and
Cara L. Santa Maria
Stephen Hupp
Affiliation:
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Cara L. Santa Maria
Affiliation:
Fielding Graduate University, California
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Summary

This chapter describes pseudoscience and questionable ideas related to specific phobias, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, and selective mutism. The chapter opens by discussing questionable approaches such as the use of genetic profiles to determine rates of neurotransmitter metabolism. Dubious treatments include neurofeedback, energy therapies, brainspotting, Accelerated Resolution Therapy, thought stopping, animal-assisted therapy, essential oils, crystal healing, and the eliciting of autonomous sensory meridian responses. The chapter closes by reviewing research-supported approaches.

Keywords

specific phobiaanxiety disorderneurofeedbacktappingbrainspottinganimal-assisted therapyessential oilscrystal healingautonomous sensory meridian responsesexposure therapy
Type
Chapter
Information
Pseudoscience in Therapy
A Skeptical Field Guide
 , pp. 36 - 52
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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  • Anxiety
  • Edited by Stephen Hupp, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Cara L. Santa Maria, Fielding Graduate University, California
  • Book: Pseudoscience in Therapy
  • Online publication: 16 March 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009000611.005
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  • Anxiety
  • Edited by Stephen Hupp, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Cara L. Santa Maria, Fielding Graduate University, California
  • Book: Pseudoscience in Therapy
  • Online publication: 16 March 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009000611.005
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Anxiety
  • Edited by Stephen Hupp, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Cara L. Santa Maria, Fielding Graduate University, California
  • Book: Pseudoscience in Therapy
  • Online publication: 16 March 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009000611.005
Available formats
×