Exposure Therapy when Patients Present with Comorbid Substance Use Disorders

Abstract

Substance use is a common comorbidity for people experiencing anxiety- related disorders. Although exposure therapy has proven effective in both of these conditions, clinicians often report hesitations about applying these interventions when patients have substance-related comorbidities. There is now increasing evi­dence for treatment programs integrating substance use treatment and exposure therapy in a variety of areas, demonstrating the efficacy of applying these interven­tions in this population. The following chapter will describe the background knowl­edge and adjustments to treatment required to implement exposure interventions in this population.