Fear learning and extinction in anxiety disorders: from mechanisms to therapies

Exposure‑based cognitive‑behavioural therapy (CBT) remains the first‑line psychotherapeutic treatment for anxiety disorders. Although it yields robust, long-lasting benefits at the group level, a sizeable minority of patients show limited or delayed response. Translational research on fear learning and extinction therefore aims to fine‑tune exposure protocols for optimal individual efficacy. Recent work has moved away from the generic “habituation for all” model toward a personalised “threat‑expectancy change” approach, targeting the patient’s specific threat beliefs rather than merely reducing arousal or subjective fear. This talk will outline how these insights have been incorporated into novel exposure strategies. Finally, the presentation will also highlight emerging lines of research that expand the mechanistic framework to include safety behaviours, avoidance, and post‑exposure processes, underscoring their relevance for truly individualised therapies for anxiety disorders.