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Health anxiety is common and leads to persistent suffering and costly medical evaluations. In this pragmatic, randomized, controlled treatment trial, researchers identified 444 patients visiting specialty clinics in six U.K. hospitals who had high health anxiety and who met diagnostic criteria for hypochondriasis.
The patients were randomized to modified cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT; 5−10 sessions) or standard care. Novice therapists were trained to deliver the CBT program, which was developed by some study authors. CBT patients had significantly lower levels of health anxiety than usual-care patients at 12 months, the primary outcome, and corresponding improvements in self-rated depression and anxiety symptoms. Health anxiety also impr…