According to a recent study, cognitive behavior therapy can be of help to treat various symptoms of menopause. Currently, hormone therapy is the most commonly used, recommended treatment for menopause symptoms. But research for ongoing alternative treatments is in full swing, irrespective of it.
Cognitive behavior therapy was previously proposed because it is a low-risk treatment for menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, depression, disturbance in sleep pattern and sexual function. This might be good news because today’s women have more severe symptoms as well.
Because of its proven effectiveness, HT still leads to a long list of available treatment options. However, controversies regarding the adverse effects of HT have prompted some women to seek other options.
Other alternative treatments include antidepressants. They are a proven way to treat menopause-related depression and hot flashes, to a certain effect. But anti-depressants also have a bad reputation for having adverse effects.
Cognitive beahavior therapy is a kind of psychotherapy that trains patients to modify their dysfunctional emotions, thoughts and behaviors into coping strategies. It has proven effective in multiple studies in the treatment of various mental health difficulties such as depression and anxiety. Previous studies relative to menopause symptoms, however, have focused only on its ability to manage hot flashes.
This new study is the first of its kind to address a broad range of common physical and psychological menopause symptoms. The study demonstrated that cognitive behaviour therapy significantly improved hot flashes, depression, sleep disturbances, and sexual concerns, although little improvement was seen in anxiety.
Moreover, the improvements were maintained for at least 3 months post-treatment. Although a small study, it lays the foundation for future research focused on how various psychological treatments may help the millions of women who suffer from menopause symptoms.
