Cognitive and Behavioural Characteristics of Primary Hypochondriasis

Abstract

Although primary hypochondriasis is a distressing condition, existing treatment is unsatisfactory and prognosis is poor. Understanding of the condition and hence development of satisfactory treatment is likely to be furthered by investigation of the psychological processes which may be involved in the aetiology and maintenance of the condition. The Illness Questionnaire, based on a cognitive-behavioural formulation of hypochondriasis, was administered to cases of DSM-III hypochondriasis and to normal controls. Cases of hypochondriasis were found to differ significantly from normal subjects, having more frequent fears about their health, more abnormal beliefs about illness and more frequent illness related behaviours.