Introduction

This book describes how to use cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for people with a co-morbid long-term physical health condition (LTC), or medically unexplained symptoms (MUS), with depression or anxiety. The material comprises a blend of the available research evidence, NHS guidelines and the experience of the authors who both have expertise in working with these presentations. Philip Kinsella has worked as a cognitive behavioural therapist for over 25 years, specialising in LTC and MUS within a department of psychological medicine in a UK-based medical training hospital. He is also an academic and trains cognitive behavioural therapists and Helen Moya was one of his students in 2009. Since this time, they have worked together both in the same clinical setting and as fellow academics and trainers on the high-intensity CBT course at the University of Nottingham. More recently, Helen Moya has returned to full-time clinical practice in an Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) service (primary care psychological therapy service in England) where she has treated people with LTC and MUS in a much shorter time-limited manner.