Telemedicine Treatment for Veterans With Gulf War Illness

"The investigators adapted two previously validated CBT manuals for use in both Telephone and In-Person groups (the Personal Health Improvement Program and Dr. Charles Engel's group treatment for GWI). Treatment included the following standard components of CBT: Didactic or educational material about the causes of GWI and an explanation of how thinking can cause stress (ABC model); Assessment of psychological distress and behavioral problems that may be targets of therapeutic intervention (e.g. symptom-related anxiety); Assessment of thinking errors that lead to psychological distress and trigger behavioral problems (e.g. catastrophizing); Cognitive restructuring to teach disputing skills or how to correct thinking errors; Cognitive and behavioral homework assignments (e.g. written self-disclosure); Didactic homework assignments (e.g. listen to previous treatment session)."

This description is the same as the experimental treatment only disseminated in person rather than over the telephone.