Considering medical and psychological treatment of endocrine disorders

From Jorge D Faccinetti – cofounder – Recent work conducted in the UK by the Kings Fund Center for Mental Health and published in Medscape, underlines the importance of psychological therapies that aid in the long-term treatment of endocrine conditions. The work has prompted the UK to set recommendations to require consideration of psychological factors that improve quality of life and general health outcomes for endocrine disorder sufferers. PWN believes these initiatives should be considered worldwide.

The authors aptly point out the need based on the fact that psychological distress can be found in up to 81% of endocrine conditions. “The reciprocal relationship between physical and mental health is well documented: poor mental health leads to compromised self-care, higher utilization of health services, lower rates of adherence, reduced quality of life and ultimately poorer outcomes. Thus, long-term conditions (LTCs) complicated by psychological distress require additional consideration.” – the article notes.

Author, long-term advocate, and PWN contributor Linda M Rio, M.A. MFT, tells me she is really gratified by the acknowledgment of the psychological factors affecting endocrine disorders. “This article basically sums the premise for my book.” “It’s awesome,” she added, “to finally see it in print and a recommendation to endocrinologists to screen for mental health concerns in their patients!” She added, “Now, it will be equally important for mental health professionals to have this information in order to close the gap between medical and psychological treatment of endocrine disorders.”

We wholeheartedly agree. The UK study provides guidelines and recommendations for psychological therapy and discusses at length the role of the Endocrinologist in assessing the psychological well-being of patients. The recommendation stresses that “Routine implementation of standardized screening questionnaires within specialist endocrine settings would assist in identifying patients with emerging and existing psychological difficulties in line with UK NICE recommendations for early recognition and assessment.” These routine assessments are critical to providing early assessment, detection, and treatment of a potential set of psychological problems that can easily lead to more severe and complex long-term emotional and mental health issues.

If you are interested in reading the entire article we’ve provided a link to the Medscape web page here: “Adjuvant Psychological Therapy in Long-term Endocrine Conditions”. You can also write us for a copy.

Read more articles on emotional and mental health by Linda published in PWN. Linda can be reached at www.lindamrio.com
Linda’s book  “The Hormone Factor in Mental Health” is available through Amazon.com and other major booksellers.  Click here for a direct link to the book page on Amazon.  

 

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