CBT for Long-Term Conditions and Medically Unexplained Symptoms A Practitioner’s Guide

CBT for Long-Term Conditions and Medically Unexplained Symptoms describes how cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can be used to treat anxiety and depression with a co-morbid long-term physical health condition (LTC) or medically unexplained symptoms (MUS).

The book teaches cognitive behavioural therapists and other clinicians to help patients deal with the psychological aspects of physical symptoms, whatever their cause. It is divided into three parts, beginning with core skills for working with people with LTC and MUS. This includes assessment, formulation and goal setting. Part II focuses on CBT for LTC and includes chapters on low intensity interventions, working with depression and anxiety using protocols, and a consideration of an identity and strengths-based approach to working with LTC. The final part provides details of a formulation driven approach to working with MUS, broken down into individual chapters on working with behaviours, cognitions and emotions.

With numerous case examples, the book provides accessible and practical guidance for mental health professionals, particularly CBT practitioners, working with anyone with long-term conditions or MUS.

Introduction; Part one: core skills to treat long-term medical conditions, and medically unexplained symptoms; 1. Core skills in understanding and helping this patient group; 2. Assessment and formulation; 3. Measuring problems, establishing suitability, and negotiating goals; Part two: Low intensity, protocol, and formulation-based CBT for long-term conditions; 4. Low-intensity work with health conditions; 5. Cognitive therapy for depression in long-term conditions; 6. ACT and third wave approaches to depression in long-term conditions; 7. Skills in working with anxiety disorders in long-term conditions; 8: A different angle: helping patients maintain identity through life-story work, social interaction, and strengths-based CBT; Part three: a formulation approach to medically unexplained symptoms; 9. Making sense of MUS, through a formulation approach; 10. CBT from the inside out: a lived experience account; 11. Ways of assisting patients in changing negative behaviours; 12. Skills in working with cognition; 13. Aiding patients with emotional expression and regulation; 14. Identifying and helping patients who are fearful of recovery; References

Philip Kinsella is a CBT practitioner specialising in psychological medicine, and a lecturer in CBT at Nottingham university training IAPT practitioners. He is the co-author of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Mental Health Workers and author of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Dr Helen Moya is a CBT practitioner and Chartered Psychologist. She currently works both in a UK IAPT service, and has her own private practice. Previously the Course Director of a CBT training programme at the University of Nottingham, she has an academic background rooted in psychology and mental health.