title: Prevalence of health anxiety problems in medical clinics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of significant health anxiety (hypochondriasis) in patients aged 16-75 in cardiology, respiratory medicine, neurological, endocrine and gastrointestinal clinics in general hospitals in London, Middlesex and North Nottinghamshire.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Health Anxiety Inventory (HAI) (short form) was administered to patients attending the five clinics over a 21 month period and all those who scored 20 or more invited to take part in a further assessment for a randomised controlled trial.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 43,205 patients attending the clinics 28,991 (67.1%) were assessed and of these, after exclusion of ineligible patients 5747 (19.8%) had significant health anxiety. 444 subsequently agreed to take part in a randomised controlled trial of treatment. The prevalence levels varied by clinic with neurology (24.7%) having the highest prevalence followed by respiratory medicine (20.9%), gastroenterology (19.5%), cardiology (19.1%), and endocrinology (17.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Abnormal health anxiety is common and a significant problem in those attending medical clinics and deserves greater awareness.
authors: Centre for Mental Health, Department of Medicine, Imperial College, London, UK. p.tyrer@imperial.ac.uk
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Tyrer
authors: Sylvia
authors: S
authors: Cooper
authors: Mike
authors: M
authors: Crawford
authors: Simon
authors: S
authors: Dupont
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Green
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Murphy
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Salkovskis
authors: Georgina
authors: G
authors: Smith
authors: Duolao
authors: D
authors: Wang
authors: Sharandeep
authors: S
authors: Bhogal
authors: Mary
authors: M
authors: Keeling
authors: Gemma
authors: G
authors: Loebenberg
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Seivewright
authors: Gemma
authors: G
authors: Walker
authors: Faye
authors: F
authors: Cooper
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Evered
authors: Stephanie
authors: S
authors: Kings
authors: Kofi
authors: K
authors: Kramo
authors: Antoinette
authors: A
authors: McNulty
authors: Jessica
authors: J
authors: Nagar
authors: Steven
authors: S
authors: Reid
authors: Rahil
authors: R
authors: Sanatinia
authors: Julie
authors: J
authors: Sinclair
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Trevor
authors: Charlotte
authors: C
authors: Watson
authors: Helen
authors: H
authors: Tyrer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006998:Hypochondriasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires