in this course
in this course
The latest research in the field of Anxiety Disorders has been translated into a workshop series at University of Sydney by 21 leading experts from 12 universities and hospitals across Australia and New Zealand under the CCRE Scheme of National Health and Medical Research Council.
- Expert Trainers
- Evidence-based Training
- Case Studies and Discussions
- Qualifies for Continuing Professional Development Credits
- Certificate of Completion
- Central Location
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorders, affecting 14.4% of the Australian population. Too much worry and anxiety makes it hard for people to concentrate on their tasks at work and home. People with anxiety disorders need your help, and we can make your help more effective and professional. To help people with anxiety disorders, you must be equipped with the specialised knowledge about effective pharmacological and non-pharmacological evidence-based treatments for anxiety disorders. The theoretical basis and the application of these treatments are required knowledge for a broad range of health professionals.
If you see patients or clients with anxiety disorders and want to keep up-to-date, or if you are looking to become specialised in this area, this workshop series is right for you!
Course outcomes
Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:
- Discuss the classification, symptoms, prevalence, and burden of anxiety disorders
- Differentiate medical and other comorbid disorders that may present as an anxiety disorder or complicate treatment
- Explain how patients' anxiety disorders are triggered, developed, and maintained using physiological, genetic, attachment, neurobiological and cognitive models and theories
- Systematically appraise the basis for the selection of particular treatment approaches to anxiety disorders
With the above competences, you will be able to effectively communicate with, and provide helpful advice to people with anxiety disorders. You would have a better chance of getting a job where competence in diagnosing and treating anxiety disorders is either needed (e.g. anxiety disorders clinics) or desirable (e.g. outpatient mental health service). These competences will be very useful for participants in private practice because many people with anxiety disorders seek help from therapists in the private sector. Health professionals acting as consultants to companies would benefit from this course due to the prevalence of anxiety and anxiety disorders in the workplace. This course also helps you gain an in-depth theoretical foundation for further developing skills in the treatment of anxiety disorders with clinical supervision.
Course content
Session 1: Epidemiology of Anxiety
- Symptoms of anxiety
- What is an anxiety disorder?
- The anxiety disorders
- Current models of classification
- How common are the anxiety disorders?
- The burden of anxiety disorders
Session 2: Physiology of the Normal Stress Response
- Response of the ANS to stress
- Panic and hyperventilation
- Response of the HPA axis to stress
Session 3: Genetics and Gene-Environment Interaction
- Genetics of the anxiety disorders
- Identification of genetic factors contributing to anxiety disorders
- Gene-environment interaction and human behaviour
Session 4: Developmental Antecedents of Anxiety
- Distinct developmental presentations
- Development of anxiety disorders
- Attachment theory
Session 5: Neurobiology of Anxiety Disorders
- Fear conditioning principles
- Extinction and fear inhibition
- Neural circuitry of anxiety
- Neurochemistry of Anxiety
Session 6: Cognitive Theory
- Cognitive models
- Schemas
- Specific cognitive distortions
- Rumination and worry
- Other important cognitive perpetuating factors
Session 7: Assessment of Anxiety Disorders
- Assessment interview
- Medical assessment issue
- Diagnosis and differential diagnoses
- Substance abuse and anxiety
- Assessment tools
Session 8: Behavioural Therapy
- Principles of exposure-based treatment
- Imaginal exposure
- In vivo exposure
- Evidence base for behavioural therapy
Session 9: Cognitive Therapy
- Identifying cognitive distortions
- Challenging cognitive distortions
- Managing rumination and worry
- Evidence base for cognitive therapy
Session 10: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Behavioural experiments
- Clinical examples of psychological treatments
- Evidence Base for CBT
- Web-based treatments for anxiety: availability and evidence base
Session 11: Pharmacotherapy
- How to use medications in anxiety disorders
- Medications that work and how to choose between them
- Benzodiazepines and anxiety disorders
- Combining medications and cognitive-behavioural treatments
Session 12: Final Examination
- Final examination (open book)
- Review questions and answers
Course delivery
This course will be delivered in a classroom setting using peer-reviewed and evidence-based course materials collaboratively written by 21 experts in this area from 12 universities and hospitals through the CCRE Scheme of National Health and Medical Research Council, including Prof. Gavin Andrews, Prof. Philip Boyce, Prof. Richard, Bryant, Prof. Helen Christensen, A/Prof. Rocco Crino, Dr. Angela Dixon, Dr. Juliette Drobny, Dr. Kim Felmingham, A/Prof. Anthony Harris, Dr. Michael Harris, A/Prof. Jennie Hudson, A/Prof. Caroline Hunt, Dr. Kasia Kozlowska, Dr. Lisa Lampe, Dr. Loyola McClean, A/Prof. Ross Menzies, A/Prof. Michelle Moulds, Prof. Richie Poulton, Dr. Chris Ryan, A/Prof. Vladan Starcevic, and A/Prof. Naomi Wray.
Professionally designed PowerPoint slides and case study video clips will be used in the training. Course outline and PowerPoint slides will be provided to you in printed format.
CPD accreditation
- Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM): 30 PRPD points
- Australian College of Nursing (ACN): 24 RCNA CNE points
- Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN): 20 CPE points
- Australian Counselling Association (ACA): 48 OPD points
- Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW): 48 CPD points
- Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP): 120 Category 1 points (3 Active Learning Modules)
- Australian Psychological Society (APS): APS Members can accrue Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours by participating in CPD activities that they determine to be relevant to their individual professional skills, learning plans and goals. These may be self-initiated. CPD activities do not need to be endorsed by the APS.
- Royal Australiasian College of Physicians (RACP): The RACP CPD Program is a self-directed and self-reporting program. Physicians' record and report on their continuing professional development activities annually. It is the responsibility of individual physicians to select the activities appropriate for their continuing professional development and to claim the appropriate level of points.
- Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA): Under the National Law, which governs the operations of the National Boards and AHPRA, all registered health practitioners must undertake CPD. Health practitioners can record and claim CPD hours with this course if they determine that this course is directed towards maintaining and improving the their competence in their practice. For more information, please refer to the CPD standards of relevant National Boards: Psychology Board of Australia, Medical Board of Australia, Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, Pharmacy Board of Australia, Chiropractic Board of Australia, Dental Board of Australia, Occupational Therapy Board of Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia, Optometry Board of Australia, Osteopathy Board of Australia, Physiotherapy Board of Australia, Podiatry Board of Australia, Chinese Medicine Board of Australia, Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia.
Suitable for
This course is suitable for health professionals such as mental health clinicians, general practitioners, pharmacists, nurses, social workers, psychologists, counsellors, marriage and family therapists, psychiatrists, psychiatric registrars, schoolteachers (school counsellors), occupational therapists, and health consultants. However, anyone who wishes to gain a comprehensive understanding of Anxiety Disorders can benefit from this course.
Prerequisites for admission
There are no specific degrees or course requirements for this course.
Free introductory DVD
Still can’t decide if this course is right for you? Simply send an e-mail to richard.he@sydney.edu.au with your name and postal address to request your FREE introductory DVD (Australian addresses only). Our 6 course committee members have recorded 12 short presentations to give you an introduction to each unit of the course and help you decide.
Similar courses
Not in Sydney or not available for the workshop series? Enrol into the online version of this workshop series so that you can study anywhere, anytime, and at your own pace:
Want to skip the theoretical underpinnings and learn the evidence-based treatment approaches for anxiety disorders? Enrol into our two half-day workshops focusing on behaviour therapy, cognitive therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy and pharmacotherapy:
Anxiety Disorders Course: An Advanced Workshop Series for Health Professionals from the University of Sydney - training courses, short courses, lessons, workshops and classes open to everyone. Enrol in Anxiety Disorders Course: An Advanced Workshop Series for Health Professionals and learn with the University of Sydney's premiere provider of short courses and training courses in Sydney - a professional and flexible learning and training development alternative to Sydney TAFE courses and Sydney community colleges - Jason Riley, Operations Manager, Centre for Continuing Education.