Positive Affect Treatment for Depression and Anxiety Therapist Guide

Anhedonia is a risk factor for poor prognosis and suicidality, and yet treatments to date have been relatively ineffective for anhedonia. Based on advances in behavioral and neural science, Positive Affect Treatment was developed to specifically target areas of reward sensitivity that are believed to contribute to anhedonia. These include the anticipation and motivation for reward, the response to attainment of reward, and the learning of associations between actions and reward outcomes.

Positive Affect Treatment for Depression and Anxiety: Therapist Guide is intended to be used by clinicians who are familiar with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) generally and with clinical presentation of depression, anxiety and anhedonia. Results show that Positive Affect Treatment not only improves positive mood state but also decreases depression and anxiety. This guide will be an indispensable resource for all practitioners who wish to effectively and efficiently help individuals regain interest and enjoyment in their usual activities while improving their quality of life.

Michelle G. Craske, Ph.D. is Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Biobehavioral Sciences & Psychiatry at UCLA. She has researched and published over 560 papers in the area of fear, anxiety and depression and has been the recipient of multiple research grants and received multiple awards of
distinction.

Halina Dour, PhD, is the owner of The Center for Genuine Growth, a multi-state practice. She has expertise in numerous evidence-based treatments and served as consultant on multiple treatment development projects, earning multiple awards.

Michael Treanor, Ph.D., is an Assistant Project Scientist with the UCLA Anxiety and Depression Research Center. He has extensive experience in numerous evidence-based treatments for PTSD, anxiety disorders, and mood disorders, and has been continuously involved in training and supervising therapists
in cognitive-behavioral interventions.

Alicia E. Meuret, Ph.D., is a Professor of Psychology and Director of the Anxiety and Depression Research Center (ARC) at SMU. Her research program focuses on novel treatment approaches for anxiety and mood disorders, for which she has received extensive funding and scientific honors.