Metacognitive Therapy in the Treatment of Hypochondriasis: A Systematic Case Series

Abstract

Hypochondriasis is a debilitating condition which can have profound psychological and functional effects. The most effective psychological treatments are cognitive and behavioural therapies. However, the degree of improvement across these treatments is variable, often with modest recovery and a high dropout rate. The aim of this study was to provide a preliminary investigation of effects associated with metacognitive therapy (MCT) applied to DSM-IV hypochondriasis. Four consecutively referred patients were treated using established A–B single case series methodology. Following MCT all patients demonstrated large and clinically meaningful improvements in specific hypochondriacal symptoms and more general negative affect measures. Treatment gains were maintained at 6-month follow-up. Substantial changes were also observed in metacognitive beliefs. Overall this case series provides preliminary evidence that MCT can be applied to hypochondriasis and it supports a move towards a more definitive evaluation of the treatment in this group