ABSTRACT
There are excellent CBT treatments of health anxiety whether patients do or do not have a long-term condition. The approach will involve challenging thoughts, reducing safety and avoidance behaviours, and building up a credible picture of causes of the symptoms. Generalised anxiety disorder can occur, and can be treated by encouraging tolerance of uncertainty, better problem-solving, challenging positive beliefs about worry and so on. Panic disorder is more common in respiratory and cardiovascular conditions and can be treated using CBT approaches, although careful consideration must be made around interoceptive exposure. PTSD can occur in response to serious medical problems, and stays in ITU, and responds to normal CBT approaches with a focus on reliving. Blood and needle phobias can interfere with medical treatment, but are treatable with exposure approaches.
