The Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Treating Anxiety Disorders in Low-Resource Settings in South Africa

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy for treating anxiety disorders in low-resource settings. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: Research suggests that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective for treating anxiety disorders in low-resource settings, demonstrating comparable outcomes to those in high-resource settings. CBT interventions, adapted to the cultural context and delivered by trained non-specialists or through guided self-help formats, have shown promise in improving anxiety symptoms and functional outcomes. These findings highlight the feasibility and potential scalability of CBT for addressing anxiety disorders in resource-constrained environments. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Social learning theory, cultural adaptation theory & resource mobilization theory of creativity may be used to anchor future studies on the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy for treating anxiety disorders in low-resource settings. Interventions should be designed to be flexible and scalable, allowing for adaptation to diverse cultural contexts and resource constraints. policymakers should prioritize the development and implementation of policies that support culturally sensitive and contextually relevant mental health interventions.