Robert W. Motta

Hofstra University United States of America

Robert W. Motta, Ph.D., ABPP, is a Professor Emeritus of Psychology and founder of the Child and Family Trauma Institute at Hofstra University, New York. There he served as the chairperson of the Psychology Department and founded an American Psychological Association (APA) accredited PsyD psychology doctoral program. He has published more than 150 scientific papers and book chapters as well as five books: Alternative Therapies for PTSD The Science of Mind-Body Treatments; Secondary Trauma: Silent Suffering and Its Treatment; Altered: A Trauma and PTSD Casebook; Suicide; and The Psychology of Panic. Dr. Motta is board certified in cognitive-behavioral psychology and behavior therapy. He is the former president of the School Division of the New York Psychological Association and is licensed as a clinical psychologist and certified as a school psychologist.

2books edited

3chapters authored

Latest work with IntechOpen by Robert W. Motta

Panic disorder is often confused with elevations of anxiety and what is often described as “anxiety attacks.” However, panic is qualitatively different from these phenomena. Panic disorders or panic attacks are intense and usually brief episodes that have often come upon the sufferer as an extreme dread and fear of annihilation. Panic attacks are startling and often produce a sense of impending doom and fear of imminent disaster. They are associated with heart palpitations, dizziness, tingling of extremities, disorientation, and the urge to flee the present environment. During a panic attack, it is not unusual for the sufferer to act in ways that seem completely irrational and beyond the realm of sanity. Imagine sitting quietly in a darkened room and being intensely engrossed in a book that you cannot put down. Suddenly you feel someone’s hands grasp your neck and begin choking you. That level of startled and life-threatening fear is like what many report during a panic attack. It is difficult to know what causes this disorder. In many cases, sufferers report having endured traumatic experiences, especially in childhood. However, in an equal percentage of cases, there is no prior trauma history, and the origins of the panic disorder are unknown, although they do tend to run in families. This book elucidates the nature of panic, the factors that contribute to the disorder, and describes psychological, physiological, and medical interventions that have been useful in ameliorating the suffering brought on by panic attacks.

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The Psychology of Panic

Edited by Robert W. Motta

Books edited

Suicide

Edited by Robert W. Motta

Chapters authored

The Role of Exercise in Reducing PTSD and Negative Emotional States

By Robert Motta

There is considerable research indicating that exercise can be of significant benefit in reducing anxiety and depression. There are far fewer investigations of the role of exercise in reducing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This chapter reviews empirical research on the impact of exercise, particularly aerobic exercise, in reducing PTSD and negative emotional states. A variety of models are reviewed to possibly explain why exercise is so beneficial. Those who suffer from PTSD are notoriously treatment avoidant. Exercise is presented as an effective intervention for PTSD, anxiety, and depression and because it does not produce the level of avoidance that traditional psychotherapies do, it becomes a valuable potential tool for treating PTSD.

Part of the book: Psychology of Health

Perspective Chapter: Panic Disorder – A Real-World Case Due to Covid

By Robert W. Motta

This chapter presents a “real-world” case of extreme panic disorder and details the treatments that were brought to bear in efforts to reduce the panic. Unlike most cases of panic which appear to arise unpredictably and from unknown causes and last for a short amount of time, this one was attributed to an underlying neurological condition and many of the extreme panic episodes persisted for full days. The condition producing this panic was autoimmune encephalitis which appears to have arisen because of a Covid infection. The eventual resolution of the panic disorder took almost 2 years of daily struggles and are detailed within the chapter.

Part of the book: The Psychology of Panic

An Overview of Burnout and Relevant Interventions

By Robert W. Motta

Burnout is a term used to describe the emotional and physical depletion that occurs after a period in which a person gives of themselves to the point of exhaustion. It has often been associated with studies involving therapist exhaustion but is also applicable to those who care for others within families, for first responders, for health service providers, and even for those who may not be involved in people work, but simply become drained from incessant job demands. Several practical interventions are presented, and these interventions are generally not of a formal psychotherapy nature. Some interventions involve structural changes in the work setting along with activities such as social engagement, yoga, meditation, exercise, etc.

Part of the book: Burnout Syndrome - Characteristics and Interventions [Working title]

Robert W. Motta

Latest work with IntechOpen by Robert W. Motta

The Psychology of Panic

Books edited

Suicide

Chapters authored

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