Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or CBT is a safe and effective therapy for hot flashes and night sweats, the most common symptoms of the menopause and an alternative to Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).
This is according to two new studies published this month. Both studies were led by Professor Myra Hunter of the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College London.
Almost a quarter of women going through the menopause commonly suffer from hot flushes and night sweats which leads to them experiencing sleep disturbances, embarrassment and discomfort.
The first study followed women who had hot flashes and night sweats after breast cancer treatment and the second followed healthy menopausal women and was published in Menopause: The Journal of the North American Menopause Society.
In the second study, 140 healthy menopausal women were followed in a Randomized Controlled Trial over 26 weeks and were divided into two groups. One had group cognitive behavior therapy and the other self-help CBT. It was found that both group and guided self-help forms of CBT led to significant improvements in how women coped with the menopause symptoms.
In addition, mood, quality of life and sleep improved.
What's more, these improvements following brief interventions of CBT were still effective 6 months later.
Source: King's College, London
