TY - JOUR T1 - Cognitive behavioural therapy: why primary care should have it all JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - 103 LP - 104 DO - 10.3399/bjgp13X663235 VL - 63 IS - 607 AU - David Blane AU - Chris Williams AU - Jill Morrison AU - Alistair Wilson AU - Stewart Mercer Y1 - 2013/02/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/63/607/103.abstract N2 - Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a short-term treatment that aims to change unhelpful patterns of thinking or behaviour that can contribute to maintaining or worsening various mental or physical health problems. Its potential applications are widespread. In the UK, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends CBT as an option for treatment of a wide range of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and bulimia nervosa. CBT can also be used in sleeping disorders, to cope with a range of physical health problems such as pain and fatigue, as well as for phobias, substance misuse disorders (including smoking cessation), and functional disorders/ medically unexplained symptoms.The traditional model of CBT (1 hour sessions for 12–20 weeks) can be used across age groups (including children, young people, and older adults) and can be delivered using a variety of methods (face-to-face, in groups/classes, by telephone). Although originally the preserve of secondary care psychiatry and psychology services, CBT has increasingly been applied in primary care settings as a first step in care.The majority of published research on the use of CBT in primary care has been in individuals with depression, with improved outcomes demonstrated for both mild-tomoderate1 and major depression,2 when compared to usual care. CBT is ideally suited to breaking the unhelpful ‘thoughtsfeelings-behaviours’ cycles associated with depression, anxiety, and related disorders such as PTSD and OCD. However, there is growing evidence for the use … ER -