Below, I have applied the Ellis model to my own experiences of the illness. CBT has become an established treatment for patients attending psychiatric and psychological services for depression, anxiety, phobias, panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive neurosis. CBT is a form of non-pharmacologic treatment based on a detailed analysis of the patient s thinking and beliefs about their illness. Irrespective of the original physiological cause of the illness, CBT helps to identify the cognitions and behaviours which, in some patients, may be perpetuating symptoms and acting as obstacles to recovery. Treatment places particular emphasis on helping patients to reappraise their illness beliefs, as well as on increasing activity and solving social and occupational problems where they exist.
Homework assignments are an integral part of treatment.
Although a positive and collaborative relationship between patient and therapist is a prerequisite for effective therapy, this can often be difficult as some patients resist a psychotherapeutic approach. Explore alternative ways of understanding this problem Plan homework task to test alternative understanding by changing behaviour. The belief that activity-induced symptoms indicate harm can lead to anxiety and to avoidance of further activity. This, in turn, leads to physiologic changes that increase activity-associated fatigue. Trials show that CBT can be particularly effective in enabling patients to break out of this.