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Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Menopausal Hot Flushes and Night Sweats: A Qualitative Analysis of Women's Experiences of Group and Self-Help CBT

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 September 2012

Janet Balabanovic ,
Beverley Ayers  and
Myra S. Hunter
Janet Balabanovic
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, UK
Beverley Ayers
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, UK
Myra S. Hunter*
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, UK
*
Reprint requests to Myra S. Hunter, Professor of Clinical Health Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, 5th Floor Bermondsey Wing, Guys Campus, London SE1 9RT, UK. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Background: There is a growing need for non-medical treatments for women experiencing problematic menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats (HF/NS). A recent randomized control trial (RCT) (MENOS2) provides evidence of the effectiveness of Group CBT and Self-Help CBT for HF/NS. Aims: This study examines MENOS 2 participants’ experience of the CBT treatments. Method: Twenty women who had experienced CBT for HF/NS (10 Group CBT and 10 Self-Help CBT) were interviewed at the end of the trial to explore how they experienced the treatment and its effects. The interviews were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results: Women experienced both treatment formats as positive and helpful, increasing their ability to cope and their sense of control over HF/NS. Four super-ordinate themes were identified: making sense of symptom change, new ways of coping and regaining control, acknowledging and challenging the menopause taboo, and social interaction and support versus individual learning. Conclusions: These qualitative results are consistent with those of the main trial in that women found both CBT formats helpful in reducing the impact of HF/NS. However, the results also suggest possible mechanisms of change and provide useful information on women's responses to the different treatment components and formats.

Keywords

Cognitive behaviour therapymenopausal symptomsGroup CBTSelf-Help CBTqualitativeIPA
Type
Research Article
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 41 , Issue 4 , July 2013 , pp. 441 - 457
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2012 

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