Prevalence of health anxiety problems in medical clinics

P Tyrer; S Cooper; M Crawford; S Dupont; J Green; D Murphy; Paul M Salkovskis; G Smith; D L Wang; S Bhogal; M Keeling; G Loebenberg; R Seivewright; G Walker; F Cooper; R Evered; S Kings; K Kramo; A McNulty; J Nagar; S Reid; R Sanatinia; J Sinclair; D Trevor; C Watson; H Tyrer

doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2011.07.004

Prevalence of health anxiety problems in medical clinics

P Tyrer, S Cooper, M Crawford, S Dupont, J Green, D Murphy, Paul M Salkovskis, G Smith, D L Wang, S Bhogal, M Keeling, G Loebenberg, R Seivewright, G Walker, F Cooper, R Evered, S Kings, K Kramo, A McNulty, J NagarS Reid, R Sanatinia, J Sinclair, D Trevor, C Watson, H Tyrer

Department of Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

132 Citations (SciVal)

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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	392-394
Number of pages	3
Journal	Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Volume	71
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2011.07.004
Publication status	Published - Dec 2011

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Tyrer, P., Cooper, S., Crawford, M., Dupont, S., Green, J., Murphy, D., Salkovskis, P. M., Smith, G., Wang, D. L., Bhogal, S., Keeling, M., Loebenberg, G., Seivewright, R., Walker, G., Cooper, F., Evered, R., Kings, S., Kramo, K., McNulty, A., ... Tyrer, H. (2011). Prevalence of health anxiety problems in medical clinics. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 71(6), 392-394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2011.07.004

Tyrer, P, Cooper, S, Crawford, M, Dupont, S, Green, J, Murphy, D, Salkovskis, PM, Smith, G, Wang, DL, Bhogal, S, Keeling, M, Loebenberg, G, Seivewright, R, Walker, G, Cooper, F, Evered, R, Kings, S, Kramo, K, McNulty, A, Nagar, J, Reid, S, Sanatinia, R, Sinclair, J, Trevor, D, Watson, C & Tyrer, H 2011, 'Prevalence of health anxiety problems in medical clinics', Journal of Psychosomatic Research, vol. 71, no. 6, pp. 392-394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2011.07.004

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title = "Prevalence of health anxiety problems in medical clinics",

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.",

author = "P Tyrer and S Cooper and M Crawford and S Dupont and J Green and D Murphy and Salkovskis, \{Paul M\} and G Smith and Wang, \{D L\} and S Bhogal and M Keeling and G Loebenberg and R Seivewright and G Walker and F Cooper and R Evered and S Kings and K Kramo and A McNulty and J Nagar and S Reid and R Sanatinia and J Sinclair and D Trevor and C Watson and H Tyrer",

year = "2011",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1016/j.jpsychores.2011.07.004",

language = "English",

volume = "71",

pages = "392--394",

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T1 - Prevalence of health anxiety problems in medical clinics

AU - Tyrer, P

AU - Cooper, S

AU - Crawford, M

AU - Dupont, S

AU - Green, J

AU - Murphy, D

AU - Salkovskis, Paul M

AU - Smith, G

AU - Wang, D L

AU - Bhogal, S

AU - Keeling, M

AU - Loebenberg, G

AU - Seivewright, R

AU - Walker, G

AU - Cooper, F

AU - Evered, R

AU - Kings, S

AU - Kramo, K

AU - McNulty, A

AU - Nagar, J

AU - Reid, S

AU - Sanatinia, R

AU - Sinclair, J

AU - Trevor, D

AU - Watson, C

AU - Tyrer, H

PY - 2011/12

Y1 - 2011/12

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

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UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2011.07.004

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DO - 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2011.07.004

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VL - 71

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JO - Journal of Psychosomatic Research

JF - Journal of Psychosomatic Research

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ER -

Prevalence of health anxiety problems in medical clinics

Abstract

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