title: Effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral group therapy for patients with hypochondriasis (health anxiety).
abstract: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown to be highly effective in the treatment of health anxiety. However, little is known about the effectiveness of group CBT in the treatment of health anxiety. The current study is the largest study that has investigated the effectiveness of combined individual and group CBT for patients with the diagnosis of hypochondriasis (N=80). Therapy outcomes were evaluated by several questionnaires. Patients showed a large improvement on these primary outcome measures both post-treatment (Cohen's d=0.82-1.08) and at a 12-month follow-up (Cohen's d=1.09-1.41). Measures of general psychopathology and somatic symptoms showed significant improvements, with small to medium effect sizes. Patients with more elevated hypochondriacal characteristics at therapy intake showed a larger therapy improvement, accounting for 7-8% of the variance in therapy outcome. CBT group therapy has therefore been shown to be an appropriate and cost-effective treatment for health anxiety.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy, and Experimental Psychopathology, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Wallstraße 3, D-55122 Mainz, Germany. Electronic address: flweck@uni-mainz.de.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Weck
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Wallstraße 3, D-55122 Mainz, Germany. Electronic address: gropalis@uni-mainz.de.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gropalis
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Wallstraße 3, D-55122 Mainz, Germany. Electronic address: hiller@uni-mainz.de.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hiller
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Philipps University Marburg, Gutenbergstraße 18, D-35037 Marburg, Germany. Electronic address: bleichha@staff.uni-marburg.de.
authors.forename: Gaby
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bleichhardt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006998:Hypochondriasis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Cognitive-behavioral therapy; Group therapy; Health anxiety; Hypochondriasis; Predictors