Cognitive therapies are based on the idea that behavior and emotions result largely from an individual's appraisal of a situation, and are therefore influenced by that individual's beliefs, assumptions and images. This book is a comprehensive guide to cognitive therapy of anxiety disorders.

Adrian Wells, PhD, is Professor of Clinical and Experimental Psychopathology at the University of Manchester, United Kingdom, and Professor II in Clinical Psychology at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. He is internationally known for his contributions to understanding psychopathological mechanisms and advancing cognitive-behavioral therapy, particularly for anxiety disorders. The originator of metacognitive therapy, Dr. Wells has published over 130 scientific papers, chapters, and books. He is Associate Editor of the journals Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, and is a Founding Fellow of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy. Dr. Wells is a founder and director of the Metacognitive Therapy Institute and a patron of the charity Anxiety UK.

About the Author xi

Preface xiii

1 Cognitive Theory and Models of Anxiety: An Introduction 1

2 Assessment: An Overview 21

3 Cognitive Therapy: Basic Charcteristics 42

4 Cognitive Therapy: Basic Techniques 57

5 Panic Disorder 98

6 Hypochondriasis: Health Anxiety 133

7 Social Phobia 167

8 Generalised Anxiety Disorder 200

9 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder 236

10 Future Developments in Cognitive Therapy 265

Rating scales 279

Appendix 285

References 294

Index 302