Cognitive Behaviour Therapy has been proven to affect the brain physically... in 9 weeks!

26 people were helped with their Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) over 9 weeks using CBT, proof seen by the reduction in swelling and activity of each participants stress area of their brain.

A group of researchers from Linköping University and other Swedish universities has studied how internet-delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (ICBT) affects brain volume and activity.

The amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), insula and hippocampus, have central roles in the acquisition and expression of fear in the brain.

Exaggerated neural response in these regions has commonly been reported in anxiety disorders.

"The greater the improvement we saw in the patients, the smaller the size of their amygdalae. The study also suggests that the reduction in volume drives the reduction in brain activity," 

says doctoral student Kristoffer NT Månsson,

The study comprised of 52 participants of which 26 individuals were treated over the internet for nine weeks with CBT, making it a relatively small study. But participants were monitored in reduction of stress felt by an independent psychiatrist using scaling such as the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement scale as well as MRI scans and Neuroimaging to detect volume and activity levels of the amygdala.

In conclusion, they demonstrated compelling evidence that applying CBT for a common anxiety disorder changed the physical structure and neurofunctional response of the amygdala.

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Amazing how our thoughts can actually change the shape of our brain.

The idea that a part of the brain literally swells in volume when its being used too much is evidence of how adaptive our brains are.

So how and why do we damage ourselves by inflicting problems like depression and SAD onto ourselves? Our perception of the environment and reality are skewed and distorted in some way. We have trains of irrational thoughts that lead to many distorted views and prevent us from seeing the bigger picture which in turn can cause unwanted feelings and behaviour.

A combination of bad experiences and learned childhood survival techniques affect our perception of the environment and events as adults. 

If you are interested in reading more about distorted thoughts, go to this blog;

DistortedThoughts... How many do you have?

If you would like help with General Anxiety Disorder (SAD) or any other worries contact Sam at Therapy for Life

Source: Translational Psychiatry