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Clinical Perspectives on the Combination of D-Cycloserine and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for the Treatment of Anxiety Disorders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 November 2014

Michael W. Otto ,
Shawnee L. Basden ,
Teresa M. Leyro ,
R. Kathryn McHugh  and
Stefan G. Hofmann
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Abstract

In a particular success for translational research agendas, characterization of the neuronal circuits underlying fear extinction, and basic research in animal extinction paradigms, has led to intervention studies examining the use of D-cycloserine (DCS) to enhance therapeutic learning from exposure-based cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). In this article, we review these intervention studies, and discuss DCS augmentation of CBT relative to more traditional combination-treatment strategies in the treatment of anxiety disorders. We offer an accounting, based on evidence for internal context effects, of current limitations in the combination of antidepressant or benzodiazepine medications with CBT and discuss the advantages of isolated-dosing strategies with DCS relative to these limitations. This strategy is contrasted with the chronic-dosing applications of DCS for schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease, and future directions for isolated-dosing strategies are discussed.

Type
Review Articles
Information
CNS Spectrums , Volume 12 , Issue 1 , January 2007 , pp. 51 - 61
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

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