Abstract
The theory of somatosensory amplification, cognitive-behavioral models, and empirical research underline the importance of
selective attention to bodily sensations for the maintenance of hypochondriasis. Thirty-six patients with the diagnosis of
DSM-IV hypochondriasis were randomly assigned to Cognitive Therapy (CT) or Exposure Therapy (ET). In the current study, the
first three sessions of CT served as an attention modification group (AMG), including attention training, and the first three
sessions of ET served as an active control group (ACG), which did not include any attention-related interventions. After AMG
and ACG, both patients and therapists reported a significant reduction of health-related anxieties, which did not differ significantly
between the two groups. However, only in the AMG was a significant reduction of body-focused attention (d = 0.36) found. Attention-focused interventions were effective in reducing attention to bodily sensations, but the reduction
of body-focused attention was not a necessary condition for the change in health anxiety.
selective attention to bodily sensations for the maintenance of hypochondriasis. Thirty-six patients with the diagnosis of
DSM-IV hypochondriasis were randomly assigned to Cognitive Therapy (CT) or Exposure Therapy (ET). In the current study, the
first three sessions of CT served as an attention modification group (AMG), including attention training, and the first three
sessions of ET served as an active control group (ACG), which did not include any attention-related interventions. After AMG
and ACG, both patients and therapists reported a significant reduction of health-related anxieties, which did not differ significantly
between the two groups. However, only in the AMG was a significant reduction of body-focused attention (d = 0.36) found. Attention-focused interventions were effective in reducing attention to bodily sensations, but the reduction
of body-focused attention was not a necessary condition for the change in health anxiety.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Brief Report
- Pages 1-7
- DOI 10.1007/s10608-012-9482-3
- Authors
- Florian Weck, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Frankfurt, Varrentrappstrasse 40–42, 60486 Frankfurt, Germany
- Julia M. B. Neng, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Frankfurt, Varrentrappstrasse 40–42, 60486 Frankfurt, Germany
- Ulrich Stangier, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Frankfurt, Varrentrappstrasse 40–42, 60486 Frankfurt, Germany
- Journal Cognitive Therapy and Research
- Online ISSN 1573-2819
- Print ISSN 0147-5916