A recent study conducted at McMaster University by doctoral candidate Vladimir Miskovic indicates that there are changes to the brain of people with social anxiety disorder (SAD) who undergo psychotherapy.
The study examined brain changes using electroencephalograms (EEGs) among 25 adults diagnosed with SAD who received 12 weeks of group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). EEGs of these adults were compared with two control groups: A group with extremely high symptoms of social anxiety and a group with low symptoms of social anxiety. Neither of these control groups received psychotherapy.
Before receiving group CBT, participants in the study had EEG results similar to the high anxiety control group, while after completion of therapy, they were similar to the low anxiety group.
The study is scheduled for publication in the journal Psychological Science, and supports the notion that talk therapy can induce physiological changes in the brain.
What do you think? Will the results of this study influence your decision regarding treatment?
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