Extensive empirical evidence, including multiple meta-analyses and randomized controlled trials, demonstrates that cognitive behavioral therapy is an effective treatment for anxiety disorders.
The claim is specific, empirical, and falsifiable, passing Step 0. The retrieved papers consistently report that CBT is superior to waitlist, usual care, or placebo conditions in reducing anxiety symptoms across various populations and delivery formats. No papers refute the core premise, though some discuss relative effectiveness compared to alternative therapies or address non-response mechanisms.