Hypochondriasis
Conditions
Brief summary
The purpose of this study was to examined if psychotherapy is an effecitive treatment for hypochondriasis.
Detailed description
Background: The central feature of hypochondriasis is preoccupation or fear of having a serious disease based on misinterpretation of bodily signs. Psychotherapeutic treatments have developed with focus on different aspects of the condition. Several controlled trials have examined the effectiveness of different treatment strategies. Hypothesis: Hypochondriasis is accessible for treatment. Specific cognitive treatment focused on misinterpretation of bodily sensations is more effective than short-term non-specific psychodynamic psychotherapy. Method: Patients with hypochondriasis were randomisation to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), psychodynamic psychotherapy, or waiting list. Patients on waiting list were subsequently randomised to CBT or dynamic psychotherapy. The patients received six-teen sessions over a period of six month. Follow-up assessments were made six and twelve month after treatment.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALCognitive behavioral psychotherapy
Sponsors
Bispebjerg Hospital
Copenhagen Trial Unit, Center for Clinical Intervention Research
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
(1) age between 18 and 65 years, (2) Danish as native language, (3) fulfilment of the ICD-10 research criteria for hypochondriasis (3), (4) health anxiety to a significant degree: a score more than 17 on the health anxiety inventory (HAI) (5). \-
Exclusion criteria
(1) current psychotic condition, (2) current substance abuse, (3) a medical condition which demanded immediate treatment, (4) psychopharmacological treatment initiated or increased during the last 6 weeks before treatment, and (5) previous cognitive behavioural treatment. \-
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Two primary outcome measures were included 0, 6 and 12 month after treatment: the Health Anxiety Inventory (HAI), which is an 18-item, self-report questionnaire and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A). | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Several secondary outcome measures were included 0, 6 and 12 month after treatment: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) and Global Assessment Functioning (GAF). | — |
Outcome results
None listed