Abstract

Exposure therapy is a laboratory-based behavior therapy and clearly effective for anxiety disorders. This paper aimed to explore and recommend various improvements for the limitations of exposure therapy. First, the discovery process of it was historically investigated. Next, empirical studies of exposure therapy for various anxiety disorders were critically analyzed, and current status of the existing combinations of exposure and cognitive treatments was summarized. As limitations of exposure therapy, clients' poor compliance, relapse and recurrence, and limited clinical improvements were noted. Both earlier learning and more recent cognitive-behavioral theories were then discussed as theories that explain how exposure therapy works. Based on the aforementioned discussions, both strategies for enhancement of treatment compliance and general measures to prevent relapse or recurrence were offered. Furthermore, methods of combining exposure With more sophisticated cognitive treatments effectively as well as improvements for the procedures of exposure therapy were recommended. This paper concluded with directions and methodological issues for future research.