Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy For Severe Health Anxiety (Hypochondriasis): an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Patients' Experiences

Williams, M J, McManus, F, Muse, Kate ORCID: 0000-0001-5824-1841 and Williams, J M (2011) Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy For Severe Health Anxiety (Hypochondriasis): an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Patients' Experiences. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 50 (4). pp. 379-397. doi:10.1111/j.2044-8260.2010.02000.x

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Abstract

Objective. Severe health anxiety (hypochondriasis) is a common and disabling condition for which existing psychological treatments have limited effects (Thomson & Page, 2007). Hence, it is a priority to examine both the ef?cacy and acceptability of new psychological treatments for health anxiety. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of participants with severe health anxiety who received Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) as part of a randomized controlled trial. Design. Semi-structured interviews were carried out 3 months after participants completed MBCT in order to explore their experiences of the course and subsequent self-managed practice. Methods. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (Smith, 1996) was used to analyze interview transcripts from nine participants who had received MBCT. Results. Two main themes emerged from the analysis: (1) My awareness of barriers to experiencing change through MBCT, and (2) Cultivation of a new approach to health anxiety and my life in general. Conclusions. The majority of participants considered MBCT to be an acceptable and bene?cial treatment for health anxiety. Participants reported bene?cial impacts of MBCT both on their health anxiety and on their broader functioning. Importantly, the focusing of attention upon bodily sensations required in MBCT practice did not exacerbate participants? health anxiety.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	severe health anxiety; hypochondriasis; psychological treatments; MBCT; Mindfullness-based Cognitive Therapy
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education and Science
Research Priority Areas:	Health, Life Sciences, Sport and Wellbeing
Depositing User:	Anne Pengelly
Date Deposited:	10 May 2022 14:00
Last Modified:	31 Aug 2023 09:05
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/11009

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