The Panic Diary is a structured tool created to gather information about pain intensity and activity.
Offers theory, guidance, and prompts for mental health professionals. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.
Includes client-friendly guidance. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.
A fillable version of the resource. This can be edited and saved in Adobe Acrobat, or other PDF editing software.
An editable Microsoft PowerPoint version of the resource.
Self-monitoring of thoughts, feelings, and symptoms is an essential skill for clients engaged in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). In this Pain Diary, clients can record activity and pain intensity. The results can be examined to look for any patterns in how the pain changes over the course of the day and the week, and how it relates to activity.
The Pain Diary offers a structured method for clients to monitor and analyze their pain, essential for effective CBT interventions. It aids in understanding the complex interplay between activities, context, and pain levels, enabling better management.
Clients experiencing persistent or recurrent physical discomfort that impacts their mood or daily functioning.
Explain the benefits and rationale for keeping a diary.
Discuss and agree what will be recorded in the diary.
Rehearse completing the diary in-session.
Review the client's completed diary.
Modify self-monitoring based on progress, shifting focus as needed.
Self-monitoring is a technique in which clients learn to systematically observe and record specific targets such as their own thoughts, body feelings, emotions, and behaviors. The aim is to improve clients’ awareness of their experiences and the contexts in which they occur, in order to help them gain insight into their symptoms and difficulties. Self-monitoring supports collaboration between the therapist and client, and creates opportunities to formulate and test hypotheses about these difficulties. Self-monitoring is usually introduced early in therapy, and provides an inexpensive and continuous measure of problem symptoms and behaviors throughout treatment.
In this Pain Diary, clients can record activity and pain intensity. The results can be examined to look for any patterns in how the pain changes over the course of the day and the week, and how it relates to activity.
