This book investigates the cognitive mechanisms underlying anxiety and how information processing biases contribute to the maintenance of anxious states. Michael W. Eysenck, a prominent researcher in cognitive psychology, synthesizes decades of experimental data to propose a comprehensive framework for understanding how anxious individuals perceive, attend to, and interpret environmental stimuli. The text evaluates the interplay between cognitive performance and emotional regulation, providing a structured analysis of how anxiety disrupts standard cognitive functioning.

Experts recognize this work as a foundational text for understanding the cognitive architecture of anxiety disorders. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a rigorous resource for students and practitioners in the field of clinical psychology.