In recent weeks, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety and depression has been taking place here at the Health Institute. This first round is now coming to an end, but psychologists Sigurbjörg J. Lúðvigsdóttir and Sóley D. Davíðsdóttir have taken care of it.

What kind of treatment is this?
The treatment is called cognitive behavioral therapy and is a psychological treatment that has been rapidly growing and spreading over the last quarter of a century and is based on a number of success studies. Cognitive behavioral therapy is based on the fundamental fact that our thinking has a great influence on how we feel and how we behave.

How does it take place?
The treatment takes place in a group and is based on education and homework, where methods are taught to deal with feelings of anxiety and depression. Each group has 15-25 participants, but two psychologists provide the treatment. The treatment takes place once a week, two sessions at a time, for five weeks. Before the treatment begins, each participant receives an individual interview with a psychologist, where his problem is assessed

Who is the treatment for?
The treatment is for all those who have an emotional problem, although the focus is on anxiety and depression symptoms. It is not uncommon for such a problem to arise for people when they are at a turning point in their lives, such as during illness, divorce, loss of a loved one and even at birth. Then some people suffer from anxiety and depression without realizing why.

Symptoms of depression and anxiety
Common symptoms of depression include:
Lack of energy, feelings of helplessness, difficulty concentrating, indecisiveness, sleep disturbances, lack of initiative and change in appetite.
Common symptoms of anxiety include:
Weakness, insecurity, indigestion, rapid heartbeat, sweating, tension pain, headache, dizziness, restlessness, sleep disturbances.

The goal of the treatment
The main goal of the treatment is for the participants to learn and train in methods to deal with various subtle problems, such as anxiety and depression. It is also emphasized that the participants learn about how such discomfort occurs. 
 
Where and when does the treatment take place?
The treatment takes place in the health care's home visits and starts in October 2005. You will get more information about the treatment and schedules from your health care doctor and other staff at the health center.

Therapists                                                                       Psychiatrists at Landspítala-University Hospital's psychiatric department are in charge of the treatment and they are bound by the same confidentiality with the participants and the health care staff. In the psychiatric field of LSH, this treatment has been in development for the past few years, and research indicates that the participants achieve good results.

What happens after treatment?
At the end of the treatment, each participant receives an individual interview with a psychologist, where his performance is evaluated. Your healthcare practitioner will then receive information about your treatment and can therefore advise you on follow-up treatment if needed.

Follow up                                                                                       Participants will be invited to two follow-up appointments, the first after two months and the second after six months, in order to assess the situation and review the main points discussed in the treatment. Participants are encouraged to take advantage of this option, both to get more help if they have not been successful enough and also to strengthen their success so that it lasts longer.

 (Presentation of LSH)

Head.: UN