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Imipramine an effective treatment for illness phobia
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City 52240.
Journal of Affective Disorders
|May 11, 1991
Summary
Imipramine treatment for illness phobia showed moderate improvement in most patients completing 4 weeks of therapy. Some experienced overstimulatory side effects, but the drug shows potential for treating this hypochondriasis subtype.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Illness phobia, a subtype of hypochondriasis, presents a significant challenge in clinical practice.
- Limited treatment options exist for patients with severe illness phobia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of imipramine in treating illness phobia.
- To determine if imipramine can alleviate symptoms associated with illness phobia.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of ten subjects diagnosed with illness phobia participated in the study.
- Subjects received imipramine treatment for a duration of 8 weeks.
- Symptom improvement and adverse reactions were monitored throughout the treatment period.
Main Results:
- Eight subjects who completed at least 4 weeks of imipramine treatment reported moderate to significant improvement.
- Four subjects experienced overstimulatory adverse reactions.
- Two subjects discontinued imipramine due to these side effects.
Conclusions:
- Imipramine demonstrates potential as an effective treatment for illness phobia.
- Further research is warranted to optimize imipramine dosage and management of side effects in this population.