Long-term health conditions and medically unexplained symptoms

BABCP has set up a Special Interest Group for members with an interest in long-term health conditions, including diagnosed, functional and unexplained symptoms.

All members with an interest in this area are invited to attend the inaugural event. Although there is no charge to attend, registration is required in order to confirm numbers, with places offered on a first-come first-served basis.

Proposed aims for the Special Interest Group for discussion are as follows: To

• promote evidence-based collaborative self-management of long-term conditions
• work with mental health presentations where a long-term condition is also present
• include both low-intensity and high-intensity CBT work in primary care liaison psychiatry, behavioural medicine
• CBT work with people who have LTHCs in secondary and tertiary care settings
• encompass CBT with recognised diagnoses; functional or unexplained presentations.

Setting up a new interim committee:

• The SIG is expected to have a committee which consists of at least 6 people, including Chair, Secretary and Treasurer; and at least three other members. All committee members are required to be BABCP members in good standing. We are planning to include people with these roles, and particular interest and experience in living with long term conditions and widening participation; and ensuring that any activities of the SIG are accessible and inclusive.
• At the launch event, we will identify volunteers for these roles, and set up a committee which will stand until our first AGM, at which elections will take place.
• If you would be interested in volunteering to take part in the interim committee, please indicate this on the registration form. If you are unable to attend the event, but would like to be part of the interim committee, please let Helen Macdonald know at h.macdonald@sheffield.ac.uk before 24 January.
• When organising and running the SIG, the intention is to take into account that members are likely to have limited time and resources available, and to ensure that any committee roles are manageable.