Telephone-guided Self-Help Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for menopausal symptoms

Area of Science:

• Menopause research
• Psychological interventions
• Women's health

Background:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for menopausal hot flushes and night sweats (HF/NS).
• Access to face-to-face CBT can be a barrier for some women.
• Self-Help CBT offers a potential solution for wider accessibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of Self-Help CBT for HF/NS with minimal telephone guidance.
• To determine if this intervention is as effective for women living at a distance.
• To assess the impact on menopausal symptom management.

Main Methods:

• A 4-week Self-Help CBT intervention (booklet, CD) was delivered to 47 women.
• Participants received one telephone call from a clinical psychologist for support.
• Assessments were conducted at baseline, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up.

Main Results:

• Significant reduction in HF/NS problem rating post-intervention, maintained at follow-up.
• Reported decrease in HF/NS frequency.
• Improvements observed in sleep quality, mood, and HF/NS beliefs and behaviours.

Conclusions:

• Telephone-guided Self-Help CBT is a viable and effective treatment for HF/NS.
• This approach can significantly broaden access to CBT for menopausal symptoms.
• Further research into remote delivery of CBT for women's health is warranted.