KATHY:Cognitive-behavioural Therapy for Hypochondriasis

Copenhagen Trial Unit, Center for Clinical Intervention Research

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 2

Conditions: Hypochondriasis

Treatments: Behavioral: Cognitive behavioral psychotherapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00208247

2001-11-DP-82-RKF-21

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study was to examined if psychotherapy is an effecitive treatment for hypochondriasis.

Full description

Background: The central feature of hypochondriasis is preoccupation or fear of having a serious disease based on misinterpretation of bodily signs. Psychotherapeutic treatments have developed with focus on different aspects of the condition. Several controlled trials have examined the effectiveness of different treatment strategies.

Hypothesis: Hypochondriasis is accessible for treatment. Specific cognitive treatment focused on misinterpretation of bodily sensations is more effective than short-term non-specific psychodynamic psychotherapy.

Method: Patients with hypochondriasis were randomisation to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), psychodynamic psychotherapy, or waiting list. Patients on waiting list were subsequently randomised to CBT or dynamic psychotherapy. The patients received six-teen sessions over a period of six month. Follow-up assessments were made six and twelve month after treatment.

Enrollment: 80 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

(1) age between 18 and 65 years, (2) Danish as native language, (3) fulfilment of the ICD-10 research criteria for hypochondriasis (3), (4) health anxiety to a significant degree: a score more than 17 on the health anxiety inventory (HAI) (5).

Exclusion criteria

(1) current psychotic condition, (2) current substance abuse, (3) a medical condition which demanded immediate treatment, (4) psychopharmacological treatment initiated or increased during the last 6 weeks before treatment, and (5) previous cognitive behavioural treatment.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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80 participants in 3 patient groups

CBT

Experimental group

Description:

The cognitive behavioural treatment developed by Salkovskis, Warwick and co-workers was used, with adaptations for the specific setting.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Cognitive behavioral psychotherapy

STPP

Experimental group

Description:

The short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy (STPP).

Treatment:

Behavioral: Cognitive behavioral psychotherapy

Waiting List

Experimental group

Description:

Patients in the waiting-list group were asked to keep in touch with their GP, who had been informed of the trial in writing. The patients and their GPs were instructed not to begin any other treatment during the study period. After 6 months, the patients on the waiting list were re-evaluated for inclusion and exclusion criteria and, if they still met the criteria, re-randomized to CBT or STPP.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Cognitive behavioral psychotherapy