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Cognitive behavior therapy for hypochondriasis: a randomized controlled trial.

Arthur J Barsky1, David K Ahern

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass, USA. abarsky@partners.org

JAMA
|March 25, 2004
PubMed
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Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) significantly reduced hypochondriasis symptoms and improved functioning. This brief intervention shows long-term benefits for individuals with hypochondriasis, offering a new treatment option.

Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Behavioral Medicine

Background:

  • Hypochondriasis is a prevalent, chronic, and disabling condition in ambulatory care.
  • Effective treatments for hypochondriasis have historically been limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of a cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) intervention for hypochondriasis.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized controlled trial comparing individual CBT to usual medical care.
  • The study included patients from primary care and volunteers, with randomization at the physician level.
  • Assessments were conducted at baseline, and 6 and 12 months post-treatment.

Main Results:

  • Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) patients showed statistically and clinically significant reductions in hypochondriacal symptoms, beliefs, and attitudes at 12-month follow-up.

Related Experiment Videos

  • CBT improved health-related anxiety and reduced impairment in social role functioning and daily activities.
  • No significant improvement was observed in hypochondriacal somatic symptoms.

    • Conclusions:

    • A brief, individual CBT intervention effectively targets hypochondriacal thinking and beliefs.
    • This CBT approach demonstrates significant and lasting positive effects on hypochondriasis symptoms.
    • The findings support CBT as a beneficial long-term treatment for hypochondriasis.