Heath Anxiety (Hypochondriasis):
The NICE recommended treatment for health anxiety is Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). During your treatment your therapist will assess the components of your anxiety and they will work with you to set goals and develop a formulation of the problem. Your therapist will explore the reasons why you believe you are ill and the evidence you have gathered to support this belief. They will look at factors, such as the symptoms you experience and how you interpret these. They will closely monitor your reaction to these symptoms and how you cope during situations to manage your anxiety. In particular, your therapist will help you to understand the link between your reactions and the ongoing maintenance of your preoccupation. They will collaborate with you to develop a bespoke treatment plan, involving belief modification, behavioural experimentation and exposure, to help you manage your symptoms more effectively. Relapse maintenance will form an important aspect of your treatment, to help maintain the gains you have achieved during therapy.
What to look out for:
High levels of anxiety or a preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious medical condition or illness.
Continued anxiety about being ill despite counter evidence through medical testing and professional reassurance.
Ongoing requests for medical tests, despite having already received adequate testing that have proven clear results.
Excessive reassurance seeking from others (family, friends, colleagues, etc).
Excessively researching and reading information about medical conditions.
Avoiding information or situations that pertains to chronic medical conditions.
Treatment FOCUS
Type: CBT
Sessions: 10+
Length: 50 mins
Treatment Focus:
Assessment
Goal Setting
Formulation
Anxiety monitoring
Considering other alternatives
Belief modification
Behavioural Experiments
Tolerance of Uncertainty
Imagery modification
Relapse Prevention
Links
NHS
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/health-anxiety/
No Panic
