Mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy for severe health anxiety (hypochondriasis): An interpretative phenomenological analysis of patients’ experiences
Matthew Williams, Freda McManus, Kate Muse, J. Mark G. Williams
British Journal of Clinical Psychology January 21, 2011 DOI: 10.1111/j.2044-8260.2010.02000.x (opens in new tab) via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractMindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is an acceptable and beneficial treatment for severe health anxiety. In interviews three months after completing an MBCT course, most participants reported improvements in both health anxiety and broader functioning. Notably, the practice of focusing attention on bodily sensations did not worsen their health anxiety. Participants described cultivating a new approach to health anxiety and to life in general, though some identified barriers to experiencing change through MBCT.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Qualitative study using interpretative phenomenological analysis Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 9 |
| Population | Participants with severe health anxiety who received MBCT as part of a randomized controlled trial |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy |
| Duration | 3-month follow-up after MBCT course |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Keywords | Interpretative phenomenological analysis Psychotherapist Cognition Clinical psychology |
| Citations | 96 |
| Key finding | MBCT was considered acceptable and beneficial for health anxiety, with participants reporting improvements and no exacerbation of anxiety from body-focused attention. |
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 efficacy 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 beneficial treatment for health anxiety. Participants reported beneficial 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.