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Cognitive behaviour therapy for excessive worry over health in medical patients

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Hypochondriasis/mental health
Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Somatoform disorders
Registration Number
ISRCTN14565822
Lead Sponsor
Imperial College London (UK)
Brief Summary

Not available

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
Completed
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
465
Inclusion Criteria

Patients attending four medical specialty clinics (in cardiology, respiratory medicine, gastroenterology and endocrinology) who:
1. Have significant health anxiety (score of 20 or more on the Health Anxiety Inventory)
2. Are aged between 16 and 75 (both males and females)
3. Are living independently
4. Are permanent residents in the area
5. Have sufficient understanding of English to read and complete the questionnaires
6. Give written consent for the interviews, including audiotaping of half the sessions
7. Give written consent for access to their medical records

Exclusion Criteria

Patients who are:
1. Considered too ill in medical terms by their consultants to be considered for the study
2. In the process of being investigated for significant pathology and for whom cognitive behaviour therapy might confuse or cause distress
3. Those who have significant cognitive impairment

Study & Design

Study Type
Interventional
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Reduction in health anxiety scores 1 year after randomisation.
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
1. Reduction in health anxiety scores 2 years after randomisation <br>2. Presence or absence of diagnosis of hypochondriasis at 1 and 2 years after randomisation <br>3. Reduction in generalised anxiety and depression, assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at 1 and 2 years after randomisation <br>4. Improvement in social function and quality of life, assessed using the Social Functioning Questionnaire (SFQ) and Euroqol EQ-5D at 1 and 2 years after randomisation <br>5. Total costs of health care (primary and secondary) 1 and 2 years after randomisation <br>6. Change in presenteeism and absenteeism at work 1 and 2 years after randomisation
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