Overcoming the Fear of Fear

November 15, 2008
Canadian clinical psychologists Watt (psychology, St. Francis Xavier Univ.) and Stewart (psychiatry, psychology, & community health & epidemiology, Dalhousie Univ.) tackle the identification and treatment of anxiety sensitivity, characterized by behavioral patterns in which the individual dwells excessively on the possibility of an event. In the book's first half, the authors introduce this anticipatory state of worry, which can be severe enough to trigger panic attacks, posttraumatic stress episodes, and related anxiety disorders. In the second half, techniques for reducing anxiety and skills for preventing relapse are explored in depth. Unlike many of the popular self-help books on the market, this is grounded in significant scholarly and clinical research. Watt and Stewart have, combined, 25 years of clinical and research experience in the field of anxiety and related disorders and are productive authors of peer-reviewed research in this field. Their book benefits greatly from this expertise; concepts are presented clearly, and corroborating case studies add color and depth to the topics under discussion. Recommended for both public and academic libraries.Crystal Renfro, Georgia Inst. of Technology Lib. and Information Ctr., Atlanta

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