title: The restrictive concept of good health in patients with hypochondriasis.
abstract: The restrictive concept of good health and the misinterpretation of bodily symptoms as a sign of illness are considered in the DSM and in well-established cognitive models as central characteristics of hypochondriasis. However, until now it has not been satisfactorily resolved whether this tendency is unique for hypochondriasis. In the current study a modified card sorting technique was used to investigate the extent to which bodily complaints were seen as compatible with a state of good health. We found that patients with hypochondriasis (n = 45) showed a more restrictive concept of good health than anxiety patients (n = 45) and healthy controls (n = 45). Those differences were only observable when a concrete evaluation of own bodily symptoms was carried out in comparison to a more general evaluation of symptoms. The misinterpretation of bodily symptoms demonstrates to be a highly specific characteristic of hypochondriasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany. weck@psych.uni-frankfurt.de
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Weck
authors.forename: Julia M B
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Neng
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Richtberg
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Stangier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006998:Hypochondriasis / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011594:Psychometrics; D012649:Self Concept; D012803:Sick Role; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires