Cognitive behavioral therapy versus paroxetine in the treatment of hypochondriasis: an 18-month naturalistic follow-up.
BACKGROUND
The present maintenance study investigated whether the reduction in hypochondriacal complaints after initial treatment with CBT or paroxetine sustained during a follow-up period and whether psychiatric severity at pretest predicted the course of hypochondriacal symptoms.


METHODS
A naturalistic follow-up period of 18 months after a 16-week RCT consisting of 33 patients initially allocated to a CBT condition and 29 patients to a paroxetine condition. The main outcome measure was the Whiteley Index.


RESULTS
The initial treatment effect of CBT and paroxetine sustained during the follow-up period. No significant differences between CBT and paroxetine were found. Treatment course could not be predicted by psychiatric comorbidity.


CONCLUSIONS
CBT and paroxetine are both effective treatments for hypochondriasis in the long term.
Greeven
Anja
A
Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Clinical, Health and Neuropsychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands. greeven@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
van Balkom
Anton J L M
AJ
van der Leeden
Rien
R
Merkelbach
Jille W
JW
van den Heuvel
Odile A
OA
Spinhoven
Philip
P
D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006998:Hypochondriasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D017374:Paroxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors