title: Effect of a short-term psychological intervention on the anxiety and depression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.
abstract: This study evaluated the effectiveness of a psychological intervention in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients, consisting of four semi-structured sessions of cognitive behavioural therapy combined with counselling techniques. An intervention group and a control group were established. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to assess levels of anxiety and depression. In total, fifty-four patients took part. Prior to the intervention, the intervention group displayed rates of 63.3 and 36.7 per cent for anxiety and depression, respectively, falling to 16.7 and 10.0 per cent afterwards. The psychological intervention demonstrated potential for the reduction of levels of anxiety and depression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.
authors.affiliation: GASMEDI 2000 S.A.U./AirLiquide Group, Spain Hospital Clínico Universitario, Spain Fundación para la Investigación HCUV-INCLIVA, Spain diaz_joscor@gva.es.
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Díaz
authors.affiliation: Hospital Clínico Universitario, Spain Fundación para la Investigación HCUV-INCLIVA, Spain.
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sancho
authors.affiliation: Universitat de Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barreto
authors.affiliation: Hospital Clínico Universitario, Spain Fundación para la Investigación HCUV-INCLIVA, Spain.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bañuls
authors.affiliation: Hospital Clínico Universitario, Spain.
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Renovell
authors.affiliation: Hospital Clínico Universitario, Spain Fundación para la Investigación HCUV-INCLIVA, Spain Universitat de Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Servera
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000523:psychology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: anxiety; clinical health psychology; depression; health psychology; psychological distress