A CONTROLLED TRIAL OF COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL TREATMENT OF HYPOCHONDRIASIS

Background. Hypochondriasis is a distressing disorder for which there is no adequate established treatment. This study evaluates the effect of cognitive-behavioural treatment of hypochondriasis, compared with a waiting list control. Method. Thirty-two patients were randomly assig ned to either cognitive-behavioural therapy or a no treatment waiting list control. Cognitive-behavioural treatment consisted of 16 individu al treatment sessions over a four-month period. The waiting list contr ol lasted for four months and was followed by 16 sessions of cognitive -behavioural treatment. Assessments were made before allocation and af ter treatment or waiting list control. Patients who had cognitive- beh avioural treatment were reassessed three months after completion of tr eatment. Results. Paired comparisons on post-treatment/wait scores ind icated that the cognitive-behavioural group showed significantly great er improvements than the waiting list on all but one patient rating, a ll therapist ratings and all assessor ratings. After three months the benefits of therapy were maintained. Conclusions. Cognitive-behavioura l treatment is an effective therapy for hypochondriasis. Implications of the study are discussed.