Dr. Melisa Robichaud: A Masterclass in Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Thoughts on Record: Podcast of the Ottawa Institute of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

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Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) can at times be difficult to differentiate from the anxious distress that can accompany depression, health anxiety, some presentations of OCD and even social anxiety. As well GAD, is often treated as a “catch-all” diagnosis that is applied to any client expressing distress. One of Canada's leading voices in the understanding and treatment of GAD, Dr. Melisa Robichaud joins us for an extensive discussion of GAD with respect to:

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) from a diagnostic lens
• uncertainty as being a key challenge within the context of GAD
• the developmental experiences & biological factors that might predispose someone towards developing GAD
• whether anxiety disorders in childhood reliably predict GAD in adulthood
• the evolution of GAD over the developmental lifespan and whether GAD gets worse with age
• useful features of GAD to be aware of that do not necessarily fall within the diagnostic framework but that would nonetheless be useful for clinicians to keep in mind
• differentiating between GAD and the “anxious distress” that can so frequently accompany an episode of major depression
• applicability of ACT and other 3rd wave CBT therapies to GAD
• the vital importance of psychoeducation and pacing of therapy in the treatment of GAD
• the role of medication in the treatment of GAD

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Host note: We will be offering a 6 week essentials of CBT workshop that I will be facilitating beginning March 24, 2023. For more information and registration, please visit: https://www.ottawacbt.ca/news.
Dr. Melisa Robichaud received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Concordia University in Montreal. She is currently an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia (UBC), a clinical instructor in the UBC Department of Psychiatry, and a clinical associate in the Department of Psychology at Simon Fraser University (SFU). She is also certified as an expert in cognitive-behavioural therapy by the Canadian Association of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies (CACBT). Dr. Robichaud worked in the former Anxiety Disorders Clinic of UBC Hospital, where she provided assessment and treatment to anxiety disorder patients. She also trained and supervised psychiatry and psychology residents in how to assess, diagnose, and treat anxiety disorders. Dr. Robichaud has been actively involved in non-profit organizations dedicated to the dissemination of best practice treatment for individuals struggling with anxiety disorders. She is a former President of CACBT (2016-2019), and is on the CACBT Certification Task Force. She also served on the Board of Directors of Anxiety Canada (formerly AnxietyBC) from 2006 to 2010, was the Director of Programs (2007-2010), and is currently on the Anxiety Canada Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Robichaud’s area of specialization is cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT) for anxiety disorders. She has established expertise in treating generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), health anxiety (also called illness anxiety or hypochondriasis), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, body-focused repetitive behaviours (e.g., hair pulling, skin picking), and post-traumatic stress disorder. Dr. Robichaud’s particular area of expertise is CBT for GAD. She ran the GAD treatment program at the former Anxiety Disorders Clinic of UBC Hospital, and has provided workshops to professionals internationally on how to recognize and treat GAD. She has published numerous scientific articles and book chapters on the subject, as well as co-authoring several books on the treatment of GAD.