scholarly journals Health anxiety: detection and treatment

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Tyrer ◽  
Helen Tyrer
Keyword(s):  
Health Anxiety ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Learning Objectives ◽  
List Type ◽  
Psychological Treatments ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural ◽  
New Diagnosis ◽  
Changing Attitudes ◽  
Term Benefit

SUMMARYHealth anxiety is an important new diagnosis that is increasing in frequency because of changing attitudes towards health, particularly excessive use of health information on the internet (cyberchondria). People with abnormal health anxiety become over-diligent monitors of their health, misinterpret most somatic sensations as evidence of disease, consult medical professionals unnecessarily and frequently, and are often over-investigated. Relatively few patients with health anxiety present to psychiatrists; most are seen in primary and secondary medical care. This paper reviews the diagnosis and presenting features of health anxiety, its identification in practice and its treatment. A range of simple psychological treatments have been shown to have long-lasting benefit for the disorder but are greatly under-used.LEARNING OBJECTIVES•To be able to identify abnormal health anxiety with the aid of probe questions•To respond to people whom you have identified with excessive health anxiety in a way that facilitates its treatment•To learn a few simple techniques derived from cognitive–behavioural therapy that can lead to long-term benefitDECLARATION OF INTERESTNone.

scholarly journals Treatment outcomes in depression: reducing drop-out rates in cognitive therapy

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-109
Author(s):  
Alexandra D. Pentaraki
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Therapy ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Learning Objectives ◽  
Drop Out ◽  
List Type ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural ◽  
Promising Treatment ◽  
Drop Out Rates

SUMMARYAlthough cognitive therapy is a promising treatment for depression, high drop-out rates and, conversely, the specific elements that make the intervention effective continue to puzzle practising clinicians. This article discusses both therapist-related factors (including competence and competencies) and patient-related factors (such as engagement in therapy and external logistical problems with attendance) that are related to drop-out and suggests practical ways to address them and improve outcomes. It examines cognitive and behavioural elements of manualised cognitive therapy and discusses findings relating to cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) in particular.LEARNING OBJECTIVES•Understand factors associated with high drop-out rates in the cognitive therapy of depression and ways to reduce them•Learn about treatment integrity in cognitive therapy of depression and its relationship to the clinical outcome•Identify specific cognitive therapy techniques associated with patients' improvement in depressionDECLARATION OF INTERESTNone.

scholarly journals Long-term effect of cognitive–behavioural therapy in patients with Hypochondriacal Disorder

BJPsych Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kari-Elise Frøystad Veddegjærde ◽  
Børge Sivertsen ◽  
Jens Christoffer Skogen ◽  
Otto Robert Frans Smith ◽  
Ingvard Wilhelmsen
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Health Anxiety ◽  
Treatment Completion ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Term Effect ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Long Term Effect ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural

Background Cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for Hypochondriacal Disorder, but the long-term effect has not been examined extensively. Aims To investigate the long-term effect of CBT on Hypochondriacal Disorder using several mental health measures. Follow-up time was at least 10 years. Method A total of 50 patients with a long history of Hypochondriacal Disorder, diagnosed according to ICD-10, received 16 sessions of individual CBT and were followed up with an uncontrolled design. All participants were assessed before and after the intervention period, and 10 years later. Intention-to-treat mixed-model repeated-measures analysis were conducted. The study has been registered at clinicaltrials.gov: NCT00959452. Results Patients displayed significant improvements across all outcomes, including level of health anxiety, somatisation, symptoms of anxiety and depression, quality of life, somatisation at treatment completion. Treatment gains were well maintained 10 years later. Conclusions This uncontrolled treatment study suggests that patients treated with CBT for Hypochondriacal Disorder have significantly reduced health anxiety 1 year after treatment completion and the results are maintained 10 years later. The results indicate that CBT has a lasting effect, but the lack of a control group and use of only one therapist, means that care should be taken when generalising the findings.

scholarly journals Cognitive behavioural therapy in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome: A narrative review on efficacy and informed consent

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith J Geraghty ◽  
Charlotte Blease
Keyword(s):  
Informed Consent ◽  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Narrative Review ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural ◽  
Term Benefit

Cognitive behavioural therapy is increasingly promoted as a treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome. There is limited research on informed consent using cognitive behavioural therapy in chronic fatigue syndrome. We undertook a narrative review to explore efficacy and to identify the salient information that should be disclosed to patients. We found a complex theoretical model underlying the rationale for psychotherapy in chronic fatigue syndrome. Cognitive behavioural therapy may bring about changes in self-reported fatigue for some patients in the short term, however there is a lack of evidence for long-term benefit or for improving physical function and cognitive behavioural therapy may cause distress if inappropriately prescribed. Therapist effects and placebo effects are important outcome factors.

scholarly journals Influence of age on outcome of psychological treatments in first-episode psychosis

2006 ◽  
Vol 188 (3) ◽  
pp. 250-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gillian Haddock ◽  
Shôn Lewis ◽  
Richard Bentall ◽  
Graham Dunn ◽  
Richard Drake ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Treatment As Usual ◽  
Psychological Treatments ◽  
Treatment Providers ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural ◽  
Episode Psychosis ◽  
Supportive Counselling ◽  
Randomised Controlled

BackgroundPsychological treatments have been shown to be effective in patients with psychosis. However, the studies published to date have included participants across wide age ranges, so few conclusions can be reached about the effectiveness of such treatments in relation to age.AimsTo evaluate outcomes by age in a randomised controlled trial designed to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), supportive counselling and treatment as usual.MethodOutcomes were evaluated in terms of symptoms, social functioning, insight and therapeutic alliance according to age at 3- and 18-month follow-up.ResultsYounger participants responded better to supportive counselling than to treatment as usual and CBTover 3 months. Older participants responded better to CBT than to supportive counselling over 18 months. Younger participants showed a greater increase in insight after CBT compared with treatment as usual and supportive counselling, and were more difficult to engage in therapy.ConclusionsYoung people may have different needs with regard to engagement in psychological treatments. Treatment providers need to take age-specific factors into account.

Long-term Effects of Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy and Lithium Therapy on Depression in the Elderly

1995 ◽  
Vol 167 (5) ◽  
pp. 653-658 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. C. M. Wilson ◽  
M. Scott ◽  
M. Abou-Saleh ◽  
R. Burns ◽  
J. R. M. Copeland
Keyword(s):  
Maintenance Therapy ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Lithium Therapy ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Depression Severity ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural

BackgroundWe examine the effects of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) as an adjuvant to acute physical treatment and lithium maintenance therapy in reducing depression severity over a follow-up year in elderly depressed patients.MethodThe study consists of three phases. During the acute treatment and continuation phase, 17 of 31 patients received CBT as an adjuvant to treatment as usual. During the maintenance phase of 1 year, subjects were entered into a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of low-dose lithium therapy.ResultsReceiving adjuvant CBT significantly reduced patients' scores on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression during the follow-up year (repeated measures analyses of variance; P = 0.007). No significant differences were found between lithium and placebo maintenance therapy.ConclusionsCBT can be adapted as an adjuvant therapy in the treatment of severely depressed elderly patients and reduces depression severity during follow-up. The prophylactic failure of long-term lithium therapy may be explained through poor compliance.

Critical issues in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with gender and sexual minorities (GSMs)

2022 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sérgio A. Carvalho ◽  
Paula Castilho ◽  
Daniel Seabra ◽  
Céu Salvador ◽  
Daniel Rijo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Minority Stress ◽  
Sexual Minorities ◽  
Clinical Work ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
List Type ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural ◽  
Critical Issues ◽  
Societal Structure

Abstract In a cisheteronormative culture, gender and sexual minorities (GSMs) may experience additional challenges that get in the way of a meaningful life. It is crucial that clinicians are mindful of these challenges and cognizant about the specificities of clinical work with GSMs. This article points out how societal structure interferes with mental health, and clarifies what clinicians must take into account when using affirmative cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) interventions. Knowledge of up-to-date terminology and use of affirmative language are the first steps that contribute to clients’ experience of respect, which is paramount for the development of a good therapeutic relationship. Considering a conceptual framework of minority stress to understand vulnerability in GSM, specificities in formulation and key psychological processes are discussed. Moreover, guidelines and practical tools for intervention are presented within a CBT approach. Some reflections on therapists’ own personal biases are encouraged, in order to increase the efficacy of interventions. Key learning aims After reading this article you will be able to: (1) Recognize the uniqueness of gender and sexual minorities (GSM) stressors in broad and specific contexts, and their impact on mental health. (2) Identify the underlying key processes and specificities in therapeutic work with GSMs, from a CBT perspective. (3) Recognize the importance of a culturally sensitive approach in affirmative CBT interventions.

scholarly journals ‘Felt security’ as a means of facilitating imagery rescripting in psychosis: a clinical protocol and illustrative case study

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Newman-Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Illustrative Case ◽  
Imagery Task ◽  
List Type ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural ◽  
Imagery Rescripting ◽  
Illustrative Case Study ◽  
The Impact

Abstract People with psychosis do not have routine access to trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) interventions such as imagery rescripting (IR), partly due to clinical caution. This case study describes the use of a simple imagery task designed to engender ‘felt security’, as a means of facilitating IR with a woman struggling with distressing memory intrusions, linked to her voices and paranoia. We assessed the impact of the felt security task, which was used before IR to enable Kip to engage in reprocessing of her trauma memories, and again after IR so that she would leave sessions feeling safe. The brief imagery task was effective in improving felt security before IR sessions. Felt security then reduced during IR, when distressing material was recalled and reprocessed, and increased again when the task was repeated. It is not yet clear whether trauma-focused interventions such as IR need to be routinely adapted for people with psychosis. In the event that individuals express concerns about IR, if the person’s formulation indicates that high levels of arousal may trigger an exacerbation of voices, paranoia or risk, or where clinicians are otherwise concerned about interventions likely to increase emotional arousal in the short term, the felt security task may facilitate safe and effective reprocessing of trauma memories. This in turn may increase access to trauma-focused CBT for people with psychosis. Key learning aims (1) To understand that people with psychosis need access to trauma-focused CBT. (2) To be familiar with a simple attachment-based imagery task designed to foster ‘felt security’. (3) To learn that this task may facilitate imagery rescripting in people with psychosis.

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