11/4/2021 Grands Rounds

Neuroticism and Disorders of Emotion: A New Synthesis

Speaker:
David H. Barlow, Ph.D., ABPP
Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry Emeritus, Boston University; Founder of the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders, Boston University

In this session, Dr. Barlow will describe an approach to trauma related anxiety, depression and other disorders, now conceptualized as “emotional disorders”. These are so named because of their shared underlying dimensions, uncovered by the study of traits or temperaments. Central to this approach is a functional model of emotional disorders describing common factors that account for the development and maintenance of these conditions based largely, but not exclusively, on the temperament of neuroticism. The presentation will conclude with a description and supporting data on a unified transdiagnostic treatment approach for the full range of emotional disorders directly targeting the underlying temperament of neuroticism and associated temperamental characteristics.

Learning Objectives:
    1. Describe the underlying features that occur across “emotional disorders” and the rationale for developing transdiagnostic treatments.
    2. Discuss the construct of neuroticism and its role in the onset and maintenance of emotional disorders.
    3. Discuss The Unified Protocol for the Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders.