Last week I was in Washington DC for the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) annual conference. The conference attendance was one of the highest in recent years, and it was a good opportunity to see what new research and clinical skills have been developed.
Here’s a few of the things I learned this past weekend:
- The treatment method we use at the OC Anxiety Center continues to be effective and up to date. Not surprisingly, CBT remains the core of efficacious treatment for anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorders. There are some interesting new approaches in how it is delivered, but the OC Anxiety Center remains cutting edge as we keep abreast of new research and their applications.
- Technology shifts are mostly incremental and augment clinical skills as opposed to replacing them. While we all hope for a magic bullet, we know in just like most situations (e.g., weight loss, academics) for the treatment of anxiety disorders nothing replaces dedicated work. Virtual reality software can help with exposure protocols when in vivo is not practical, and tracking software can be useful for homework completion, but there is not a replacement for of a competent psychologist and a hard working patient.
- Learning does not only occur at the conference, but through networking outside of it. There were very solid presentations at the conference, but that alone doesn’t promote learning. I found that going to dinners and having coffee with colleagues engenders useful discussions about potential therapeutic approaches and better business practices. It’s likely that the more casual environment leads to more freewheeling and interesting conversations.
I’m often asked why it’s important to go to conferences when I can do most of my continuing education online. I truly believe that our continued learning of new skills and understanding of research comes not by what is easy or inexpensive, but what will best benefit our patients. This means what we will continue to attend and participate in national level conferences to ensure the best care for our patients.
