6533b85bfe1ef96bd12bb549

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Exposure therapy changes dysfunctional evaluations of somatic symptoms in patients with hypochondriasis (health anxiety). A randomized controlled trial

Volkmar HöflingFlorian WeckJulia SchwindJulia M.b. Neng

subject

AdultMaleSomatic cellmedicine.medical_treatmentExposure therapyImplosive TherapyIllness anxiety disorderDysfunctional familylaw.inventionRandomized controlled triallawmedicineHumansPsychiatric Status Rating ScalesAnalysis of VarianceCognitive Behavioral TherapyCognitive restructuringmedicine.diseaseAnxiety DisordersHypochondriasisPsychiatry and Mental healthClinical PsychologyTreatment OutcomePsychotherapy GroupCognitive therapyAnxietyFemalemedicine.symptomPsychologyAttitude to HealthClinical psychology

description

Dysfunctional evaluations of somatic symptoms are considered a central factor in maintaining hypochondriasis. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether exposure therapy (ET) without cognitive restructuring is sufficient to change dysfunctional evaluations of somatic symptoms. The current study was based on a randomized controlled trial and compared patients with hypochondriasis (N=73) receiving ET or cognitive therapy (CT) to a wait list (WL) control group. In both the ET and CT groups, dysfunctional symptom evaluations changed significantly compared with the WL group. No differences between the ET and CT groups emerged. The relationship between the treatment condition (active treatment vs. WL) and reductions in health anxiety was mediated by changes in somatic symptom evaluations only in a specific card sorting procedure. We conclude that addressing dysfunctional symptom evaluations is a necessary precondition for the effective treatment of hypochondriasis. However, the results indicate that ET and CT appear to change those processes to a similar degree.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2015-08-01Journal of Anxiety Disorders
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2015.05.008