One third of adults seek medical treatment for bothersome symptoms for which there is no serious medical explanation and for which standard medical treatment offers little or no relief. Furthermore, research indicates that certain individual and family dynamics can significantly affect symptomatic distress. There is a family-sensitive cognitive-behavioral intervention that can ease the symptoms of such chronic illnesses. This article describes and illustrates this intervention with a case study including a session transcription.
Barsky, A., & Ahern, D. (2004). Cognitive behavior therapy for hypochondrias: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of the American Medical Association, 291(12), 1464-1470.
2.
Barsky, A., & Borus, J. (1999). Functional somatic syndromes. Annals of Internal Medicine, 130(11), 910-921.
3.
Clark, D., Salkovskis, P., Hackman, A., Wells, A., Fennell, M., Ludgate, J., et al. (1998). Two psychological treatments for hypochondriasis. British Journal of Psychiatry, 173, 218-225.
4.
Driscoll, K., Joiner, T., Reardon, M., & Cukrowicz, K. (2004). Simple treatment for complex problems: A flexible cognitive behavioral analysis approach to psychotherapy. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
5.
Loney, P., & Stratford, P. (1999). The prevalence of low back pain in adults: A methodological review of the literature. Physical Therapy, 79, 384-396.
6.
McCullough, J. (2000). Treatment for chronic depression: Cognitive behavioral analysis system of psychotherapy. New York: Guilford.
7.
Minuchin, S., Rosman, B., & Baker, L. (1978). Psychosomatic families: Anorexia nervosa in context. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
8.
Nakao, M., Myers, P., Fricione, G., Zuttermeister, P., Barsky, A., & Benson, H. (2001). Somatization and symptom reduction through a behavioral medicine intervention in a mind/body medical clinic. Behavioral Medicine, 26, 169-176.
9.
Robertson, J. (1995). The rape of the spine. Surgical Neurology, 39, 5-12.
10.
Sperry, L. (2005). A therapeutic interviewing strategy for effective counseling practice: Applications to health and medical issues in individual and couples therapy. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families, 13, 477-481.
11.
Sperry, L. (2006). Psychological treatment of chronic illness. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association Books.
12.
Verbrugge, I., & Ascione, F. (1987). Exploring the iceberg: Common symptoms and how people care for then. Medical Care, 25, 539-569.
