Cognitive and Behavioural Treatment of Hypochondriasis

Background: This study investigates the feasibility and effectiveness of time-limited treatment protocols based upon cognitive and behavioural interventions. Method: Seventeen patients with DSM-IV diagnoses of hypochondriasis were offered 12 1-hour sessions of either ‘pure’ cognitive or ‘pure’ behav...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychotherapy and psychosomatics 1998-07, Vol.67 (4/5), p.214-221
Main Authors: Bouman, Theo K., Visser, Sako
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Analysis of Variance
Behavior Therapy - methods
Behavior Therapy - standards
Behavior therapy. Cognitive therapy
Biological and medical sciences
Cognitive Therapy - classification
Cognitive Therapy - standards
Desensitization, Psychologic - standards
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Hypochondriasis - therapy
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Pilot Projects
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Regular Article
Treatment Outcome
Treatments
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Summary:Background: This study investigates the feasibility and effectiveness of time-limited treatment protocols based upon cognitive and behavioural interventions. Method: Seventeen patients with DSM-IV diagnoses of hypochondriasis were offered 12 1-hour sessions of either ‘pure’ cognitive or ‘pure’ behavioural (i.e. exposure in vivo and response prevention) treatment. Patients were used as their own controls by observing a 4-week period without interventions before and after treatment. Results: Patients in both treatment conditions improved on specific measures of hypochondriasis (Kellner’s Illness Attitude Scales) and depression. These changes took place during the active treatment period, whereas in the control periods scores remained unchanged. Furthermore, no differential treatment effectiveness could be demonstrated. Conclusions: Cognitive and behavioural interventions seem to be active ingredients in the treatment of hypochondriasis, although the contribution of nonspecific factors (e.g. patient motivation, therapist attitudes, and the therapeutic relationship) requires further study.
ISSN:0033-3190
1423-0348
DOI:10.1159/000012283