Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is often used to treat a variety of mental disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts and/or repetitive behaviors), eating disorders and agoraphobia (fear of open spaces). It is also used to treat a wide variety of pain patients. It is mostly used in combination with other treatments.

When employed in pain management, CBT is most often used with patients who experience chronic pain conditions and who have had minimal or no relief of symptoms with medications. Most patients cannot control severe pain with CBT alone but may use it along with medications or other pain management tools, such as physical therapy, manipulation therapy or biofeedback, to alleviate pain symptoms and reduce emotional distress.

CBT is sometimes a prescribed treatment for conditions including:

• Arthritis. Inflammation of the joints. Common types of arthritis include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout.

• Headaches. Patients who experience chronic headaches, such as recurrent migraines, are sometimes treated with CBT.
  
  
• Back pain. Some cases of back pain are not relieved with medication or surgery. Back pain may also be caused or worsened by emotional stress. People who are under stress experience a tightening of the back muscles.
  
  
• Fibromyalgia. CBT may help people cope with this chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue and tenderness.
  
  
• Chronic fatigue syndrome. Cognitive behavioral therapy has been shown to help patients cope with this condition and allow increased activities without triggering increased symptoms, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
  
  
• Insomnia. CBT is sometimes prescribed to address the sleeping disorders that can accompany many chronic pain conditions, including restless legs syndrome, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, polymyalgia rheumatica,  sarcoidosis, Lyme disease and chronic joint pain.
  
  
• Systemic lupus erythematosus. CBT may address the cognitive dysfunction that can affect people with this autoimmune disorder, according to the Lupus Foundation of America.
  
  
• Sickle cell anemia. Instruction in coping skills can reduce negative thinking and pain.
  
  
• Chest pain. CBT has been found to aid some patients with noncardiac chest pain due to causes such as esophageal spasms or asthma. Because the therapy has been shown to decrease blood pressure and hostility, it may also benefit those who have or are at risk of heart disease.
  
  
• Abdominal pain. Some research has supported CBT in treating chronic conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and ulcers.
  
  
• Pelvic pain and sexual pain. A combination of CBT and biofeedback has demonstrated effectiveness in relieving vaginismus (recurrent spasms of vaginal muscles). CBT may also help relieve chronic pelvic pain syndromes such as prostatodynia in men and vulvodynia in women.
  
  
• Trauma pain. For conditions ranging from serious burns to spinal cord injury, CBT can address depression, body image, stress and other issues.
  
  
• Cancer pain. Pain in cancer patients can be caused by tumors, complications of cancer treatments (such as radiation) or be unrelated to the disease or treatment. CBT can help patients cope with the symptoms of illness.