PERCEPTUAL AND COGNITIVE ABNORMALITY MODEL OF HYPOCHONDRIASIS - AMPLIFICATION AND PHYSIOLOGICAL REACTIVITY IN WOMEN

This study investigated the perceptual/cognitive abnormality model of hypochondriasis, which suggests that hypochondriacal patients amplify and misinterpret normal bodily sensations. The hypothesis was evaluate d by assessing pain perception and stress reactivity in female hypocho ndriacal (N = 15) and female nonhypochondriacal control subjects (N = 15). Subjects completed self-report measures and participated in a lab oratory stress reactivity assessment consisting of the cold presser ta sk and an imagery task. Hypochondriacal subjects exhibited a significa nt increase in heart rate during the cold presser task and a significa nt drop in hand temperature relative to controls. Hand temperature rem ained lower among the hypochondriacal subjects after the cold presser task was terminated. Hypochondriacal subjects terminated the cold pres ser task more frequently, left their feet in the cold water bath a sig nificantly shorter period of time, and rated the cold presser task as significantly more unpleasant (although not more intense) relative to controls. Group differences were not observed in the imagery task. Of interest, hypochondriacal subjects' baseline heart rate was significan tly lower than that of controls. Taken together, these data suggest th at hypochondriacal behavior may be mediated, in part, by objective dif ferences in physiological reactivity.