This practical guide provides patients who have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) strategies for coping with IBD. It teaches a number of skills that can make coping with Crohn's or colitis easier.

Chapters provide an overview of Crohn's and colitis as well as the interplay between stress and the gut, before offering strategies on relaxation training, physical activity, managing stress and avoidance, diet and nutrition, and medical treatment options. The book also emphasizes the importance of the doctor-patient relationship and helps patients learn how to think about medical management (including the possibility of surgery) to minimize anxiety from catastrophic thoughts and balance potential risks and benefits appropriately. Dr. Hunt challenges readers to engage in specific behavioral experiments to reduce shame and stigma and highlights practical applications with case illustrations and clinical vignettes.

This book can be used as a standalone self-help book or in conjunction with practitioners during in-person therapy.

About the Author

Melissa G. Hunt is a psychologist, therapist and clinical scientist who specializes in helping folks with chronic GI disorders reclaim their lives.

Reviews

"Dr. Hunt's book on coping with IBD is timely. The emotional health of patients with Crohn's and ulcerative colitis is often neglected, but so critical to living well with IBD. This book can empower patients to take control of how they think, feel and behave around their symptoms and the settings in which they occur."

Laurie Keefer, PhD, GI Psychologist and Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry,Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City

"Dr. Hunt has done a masterful job in authoring this treatment guide. It provides a toolbox for patients and caregivers alike to be able to understand and address challenges in daily living that may arise in individuals plagued with inflammatory bowel disease, leading to substantially improved quality of life."

Gary R. Lichtenstein, MD, FACG, FACP, AGAF; Professor of Medicine, Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Director, Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Pennsylvania Health System.

Book Information
ISBN 9780367523671
Author Melissa G. Hunt
Format Paperback
Page Count 178
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 272g