Extrait

Background and study aims Hypochondriasis, or health anxiety, is a significant problem in all parts of clinical practice, but has been largely ignored by services until recently. Our studies, and those of others, suggest that between 1 in 4 and 1 in 10 of all those attending medical clinics have significant health anxiety and this accounts for both considerable suffering and unnecessary use of resources. One of the characteristics of those with severe health anxiety is that it persists and leads to frequent medical consultations in both primary and secondary care. This represents a significant drain on health service resources at a time of considerable cost pressures, and, in addition, the symptoms of health anxiety are highly troubling and disturbing, are associated with much time off work, and adversely affect social functioning. In a study of treatment in a genitourinary medicine clinic, we found that a short course of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) was highly effective at reducing health anxiety, and that these benefits are maintained over a period of one year. We also found that the number of consultations in both general practice and the clinics fell in those in the active treatment group over one year but the savings made were small as the costs of investigations are relatively low. We are now planning a larger study of CBT to treat health anxiety in cardiology, respiratory medicine, gastroenterology and endocrinology clinics, where such anxiety is more common than in genuitourinary medicine. Who can participate? Patients aged between 16 and 75 attending four medical specialty clinics (in cardiology, respiratory medicine, gastroenterology and endocrinology) who have significant health anxiety What does the study involve? Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. One group is treated with CBT adapted for health anxiety in the form of between 5 and 10 one-hour sessions, which will address abnormal worries about health and ways of overcoming them. The other group is treated with a single 45-minute explanatory interview describing the nature of health anxiety and how it tends to be perpetuated. We measure patients’ functioning, anxiety and quality of life, as well as health service and employment costs, at the start of the study and at 6 monthly intervals for two years, to see whether the costs of treatment are offset by savings on attendance and investigations over 2 years. What are the possible benefits and risks of participating? Not provided at time of registration Where is the study run from? Imperial College London (UK) When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for? October 2008 to September 2012 Who is funding the study? Health Technology Assessment Programme (UK) Who is the main contact? Prof. Peter Tyrer [email protected]

Critère d'inclusion

• Hypochondriasis/ mental health

Liens

• ictrp
• isrctn