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Two psychological treatments for hypochondriasis

A randomised controlled trial

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

David M. Clark ,
Paul M. Salkovskis ,
Ann Hackmann ,
Adrian Wells ,
Melanie Fennell ,
John Ludgate ,
Sameena Ahmad ,
H. Candida Richards  and
Michael Gelder
David M. Clark
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford
Paul M. Salkovskis
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford
Ann Hackmann
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford
Adrian Wells
Affiliation:
University of Manchester, Manchester Royal Infirmary
Melanie Fennell
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford
John Ludgate
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford
Sameena Ahmad
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford
H. Candida Richards
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford
Michael Gelder
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford
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Abstract

Background

Hypochondriasis is generally considered difficult to manage. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of cognitive therapy and to compare it with an equally credible, alternative treatment.

Method

Forty-eight patients with hypochondriasis were initially randomly assigned to either cognitive therapy, behavioural stress management or a no treatment waiting list control group. At the end of the waiting period, patients in the control group were randomly assigned to one of the two treatments. Assessments were at pre-, mid- and post-treatment or waiting list and at three-, six- and 12-month post-treatment follow-up.

Results

Comparisons with the waiting list group showed both treatments were effective. Comparisons between the treatments showed that cognitive therapy was more effective than behavioural stress management on measures of hypochondriasis, but not general mood disturbance at mid-treatment and at post-treatment. One year after treatment patients who had received either treatment remained significantly better than before treatment, and on almost all measures the two therapies did not differ from each other.

Conclusions

Cognitive therapy is a specific treatment for hypochondriasis. Behavioural stress management is also effective but its specificity remains to be demonstrated.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 173 , Issue 3 , September 1998 , pp. 218 - 225
Copyright
Copyright © 1998 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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