Internet-based cognitive–behavioural therapy for severe health anxiety: randomised controlled trial

Background Hypochondriasis, characterised by severe health anxiety, is a common condition associated with functional disability. Cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) is an effective but not widely disseminated treatment for hypochondriasis. Internetbased CBT, including guidance in the form of minimal therapist contact via email, could be a more accessible treatment, but no study has investigated internet-based CBT for hypochondriasis. Aims To investigate the efficacy of internet-based CBT for hypochondriasis. Method A randomised controlled superiority trial with masked assessment comparing internet-based CBT (n = 40) over 12 weeks with an attention control condition (n = 41) for people with hypochondriasis. The primary outcome measure was the Health Anxiety Inventory. This trial is registrated with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00828152). Results Participants receiving internet-based CBT made large and superior improvements compared with the control group on measures of health anxiety (between-group Cohen’s d range

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