Morita therapy was originally developed to treat shinkeishitsu, an anxiety neurosis, closely corresponding with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (fourth edition, text revision) diagnosis for anxiety disorders (mainly social phobia, panic, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder), depression, and personality disorders, especially Cluster C personality disorders (anxiety- or fear-related disorders). The core of these problems was seen by Shoma Morita as arising from what he termed a hypochondriacal temperament or hypersensitivity to symptoms. Influenced by Zen Buddhism, though not considered a religiously based therapy, and similar in philosophy to third-wave cognitive-behavioral approaches (e.g., dialectical behavior therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy), Morita therapy employs psychoeducation, journaling, and experiential learning in naturalized contexts to promote coexistence with distressing thoughts and ...

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