Application of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Associated with Pharmacotherapy for Anxious and Depressive Disorders

The efficacy of drugs as monotherapy for anxiety and depressive disorders is well established, but the importance of other non-pharmacological therapies for the best clinical evolution of the patient is also known. The application of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in anxiety and depressive disorders allows the therapist to lead the improvement of patients; dysfunctional behaviors and thoughts, making it an important tool in the process of symptomatic improvement. There is proof of the effectiveness of CBT in the treatment of psychiatric disorders, but there is a need to discuss treatment proposals associating CBT and pharmacotherapy with the intention of better controlling and stabilizing the symptoms of these disorders. Studies provide evidence that pharmacological treatment associated with CBT as a combined therapy can improve results in relation to CBT or pharmacotherapy if applied alone, with the combined approach being a therapeutic strategy indicated for patients with anxiety and depressive disorders.