Universities should invest in CBT training
SANDTON - The South African Depression and Anxiety Group are appealing for increased awareness and training, especially in universities, on cognitive behavioural therapy.
This was the message at the 2014 Mental Health Press Summit, hosted by the group, in conjunction with Discovery Health.
Zane Wilson, founder of Sadag, explained the importance of increased training and funding for this form of therapy.
“CBT is a relatively unheard of form of therapy in South Africa, but it has been proven to be successful internationally, so we want people to be aware of this type of treatment and actively seek it,” she said.
She added that it was important to alert South Africans to the types of therapies available and to appeal to universities and donors to contribute to training. This was the motivation behind hosting the summit, she explained, to increase awareness and visibility on this therapy.
CBT is a form of therapy that treats social anxiety disorders and focuses on a here and now-focused approach rather than the history behind such disorders. The therapy includes cognitive restructuring, training in social skills and gradual exposure therapy as components.
Kevin Bolon, a psychologist and CBT specialist, explained that the therapy was a proven success internationally; adding that in South Africa, universities offer minimal training on the therapy.
“If patients receive treatment which includes CBT and medication, the chances of a relapse are decreased significantly, making it integral to introduce the therapy in South Africa,” he said.
Professor Stefan Hofmann, a Boston University lecturer and CBT expert, echoed his statement, saying that the therapy was proven to be arguably the most effective way of treating social anxiety disorders, having more than 50 percent success rate in countries such as the United Kingdom.
The summit took place on 4 November in Sandton and was hosted together with Discovery Health.
