Abstract
Empirical research has found comparable levels of anxiety in patients with hypochondriasis and those with various anxiety
disorders. However, the majority of these investigations were based exclusively on questionnaires (Q-data). In the present
study, we included the implicit association task-anxiety (IAT-anxiety; Egloff and Schmukle in J Personal Soc Psychol, 83:1441–1455
2002) as an implicit test (T-data) of anxiety. Results showed that patients with hypochondriasis (n = 36) and those with anxiety disorders (n = 25) did not differ with respect to explicit (brief symptom inventory) or implicit measures (IAT-anxiety) of anxiety, with
both groups exhibiting higher values than healthy controls (n = 34). For measures of hypochondriacal attributes (illness attitude scales), patients with hypochondriasis exhibited the
highest values, and the values of patients with anxiety disorders lay between those of healthy controls and those of hypochondriacal
patients. The results indicate a clear overlap between hypochondriasis and anxiety disorders with respect to explicit and
implicit measures of anxiety.
disorders. However, the majority of these investigations were based exclusively on questionnaires (Q-data). In the present
study, we included the implicit association task-anxiety (IAT-anxiety; Egloff and Schmukle in J Personal Soc Psychol, 83:1441–1455
2002) as an implicit test (T-data) of anxiety. Results showed that patients with hypochondriasis (n = 36) and those with anxiety disorders (n = 25) did not differ with respect to explicit (brief symptom inventory) or implicit measures (IAT-anxiety) of anxiety, with
both groups exhibiting higher values than healthy controls (n = 34). For measures of hypochondriacal attributes (illness attitude scales), patients with hypochondriasis exhibited the
highest values, and the values of patients with anxiety disorders lay between those of healthy controls and those of hypochondriacal
patients. The results indicate a clear overlap between hypochondriasis and anxiety disorders with respect to explicit and
implicit measures of anxiety.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s10608-010-9303-5
- Authors
- Florian Weck, University of Frankfurt Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Varrantrappstraße 40-42 60486 Frankfurt Germany
- Gaby Bleichhardt, University of Marburg Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Marburg Germany
- Michael Witthöft, University of Mainz Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Mainz Germany
- Wolfgang Hiller, University of Mainz Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Mainz Germany
- Journal Cognitive Therapy and Research
- Online ISSN 1573-2819
- Print ISSN 0147-5916