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Acceptance and commitment group therapy (ACT-G) for health anxiety: a randomized controlled trial

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 August 2015

T. Eilenberg ,
P. Fink ,
J. S. Jensen ,
W. Rief  and
L. Frostholm
T. Eilenberg*
Affiliation:
The Research Clinic for Functional Disorders and Psychosomatics, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
P. Fink
Affiliation:
The Research Clinic for Functional Disorders and Psychosomatics, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
J. S. Jensen
Affiliation:
The Research Clinic for Functional Disorders and Psychosomatics, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
W. Rief
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
L. Frostholm
Affiliation:
The Research Clinic for Functional Disorders and Psychosomatics, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
*
*Address for correspondence: T. Eilenberg, Ph.D., The Research Clinic for Functional Disorders and Psychosomatics, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Background.

Severe health anxiety is frequent and costly, yet rarely diagnosed or treated. Earlier treatment studies show problems with recruitment, dropout and recovery. In the current study, the authors aimed to test the effect of acceptance and commitment group therapy (ACT-G) compared to waitlist in patients with severe health anxiety.

Method.

During March 2010 to April 2012, 126 consecutively referred patients meeting research criteria for severe health anxiety were block-randomized (1:1) to ACT-G or a 10 months’ waitlist (Clinicaltrials.gov, no. NCT01158430). Patients allocated to ACT-G were treated in seven groups of nine patients between December 2010 and October 2012 and received nine weekly 3-h group sessions and a booster session consisting of ACT techniques. The primary outcome was decided a priori as the mean change in self-reported illness worry on the Whiteley-7 Index (WI) from baseline to 10 months’ follow-up. Secondary outcomes were improvement in emotional distress and health-related quality of life at 10 months’ follow-up.

Results.

Intention-to-treat analysis showed a statistically significant mean difference of 20.5 points [95% confidence interval (CI) 11.7–29·4, p < 0.001] on the WI between the groups at 10 months, and the between-group effect sizes were large (Cohen's d = 0.89, 95% CI 0.50–1.29). The number needed to treat was 2.4 (95% CI 1.4–3.4, p < 0.001). Diagnosis and treatment were well accepted by the patients.

Conclusions.

ACT-G seems feasible, acceptable and effective in treating severe health anxiety.

Keywords

Acceptance and commitment therapyhealth anxietyhypochondriasisillness anxiety disorderrandomized control trial
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 46 , Issue 1 , January 2016 , pp. 103 - 115
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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