Prevalence of health anxiety problems in medical clinics

Tyrer, Peter; Cooper, Sylvia; Crawford, Mike; Dupont, Simon; Green, John; Murphy, David; Salkovskis, Paul; Smith, Georgina; Wang, Duolao; Bhogal, Sharandeep; Keeling, Mary; Loebenberg, Gemma; Seivewright, Richard; Walker, Gemma; Cooper, Faye; Evered, Rachel; Kings, Stephanie; Kramo, Kofi; McNulty, Antoinette; Nagar, Jessica; Reid, Steven; Sanatinia, Rahil; Sinclair, Julie; Trevor, David; Watson, Charlotte; Tyrer, Helen

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of significant health anxiety (hypochondriasis) in patients aged 16-75 in cardiology, respiratory medicine, neurological, endocrine and gastrointestinal clinics in general hospitals in London, Middlesex and North Nottinghamshire. Method: The Health Anxiety Inventory (HAI) (short form) was administered to patients attending the five clinics over a 21. month period and all those who scored 20 or more invited to take part in a further assessment for a randomised controlled trial. Results: Of 43,205 patients attending the clinics 28,991 (67.1%) were assessed and of these, after exclusion of ineligible patients 5747 (19.8%) had significant health anxiety. 444 subsequently agreed to take part in a randomised controlled trial of treatment. The prevalence levels varied by clinic with neurology (24.7%) having the highest prevalence followed by respiratory medicine (20.9%), gastroenterology (19.5%), cardiology (19.1%), and endocrinology (17.5%). Conclusion: Abnormal health anxiety is common and a significant problem in those attending medical clinics and deserves greater awareness. © 2011 Elsevier Inc..

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 26, 2011
• Online Publication Date: Sep 13, 2011
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 2011
• Deposit Date: Feb 5, 2019
• Journal: Journal of Psychosomatic Research
• Print ISSN: 0022-3999
• Electronic ISSN: 1879-1360
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 71
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 392-394
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2011.07.004
• Keywords: health anxiety, hypochondriasis, prevalence, secondary care
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/956666
• Publisher URL: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2011.07.004
• Contract Date: Feb 5, 2019