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Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Health Anxiety

N/A
Waitlist Available
Led By Robert E Brady, PhD
Research Sponsored by Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Diagnosis of illness anxiety disorder or somatic symptom disorder determined by Health Anxiety Interview
Age of 18 years to 85
Must not have
Non-English speaking
Active suicidal ideation
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up 1 to 15 months before baseline
Awards & highlights
No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial is testing whether a brief cognitive-behavioral intervention delivered by medical assistants can help reduce health anxiety. The intervention consists of four sessions of individually administered cognitive-behavioral therapy. Treatment focuses on building motivation for change, psychoeducation about health anxiety, cognitive restructuring, and situational and interoceptive exposure. The study will recruit from three primary care clinics within the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health system.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for adults aged 18-85 with health anxiety or somatic symptom disorder, who see their primary care provider often and have high self-reported health anxiety. They must be patients at specific Dartmouth-Hitchcock clinics and speak English. Those with chronic illnesses requiring frequent visits, unmanaged psychosis or bipolar disorder, or active suicidal thoughts cannot join.
What is being tested?
The study tests a short cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for health anxiety in primary care versus usual care which involves referral to a mental health provider. The CBT includes four sessions focusing on motivation, education about health anxiety, thought restructuring, and exposure exercises. Outcomes are measured over 12 weeks post-treatment.
What are the potential side effects?
Since this trial involves psychological therapy rather than medication, traditional side effects are not expected; however participants may experience discomfort when confronting anxieties during the therapeutic process.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below
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I have been diagnosed with health anxiety or somatic symptom disorder.
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I am between 18 and 85 years old.

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:
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I do not speak English.
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I am currently having thoughts about harming myself.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~1 to 15 months before baseline
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and 1 to 15 months before baseline for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
Change from baseline in health anxiety, measured by the Short Health Anxiety Inventory
Secondary study objectives
Acceptability of the intervention, measured by the Treatment Evaluation Inventory-Short Form
Change in readiness for intervention, measured by the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment-Psychotherapy Version
Other study objectives
Determination of health anxiety diagnoses, assessed by the Health Anxiety Interview
Fidelity to the intervention following training, measured by the Cognitive Therapy Scale-Revised
Measurement of health anxiety for screening purposes, assessed by the Whiteley Index-7
+2 more

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group
All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Referral to mental health providerExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Provider makes referral to a mental health provider
Group II: Cognitive-Behavioral TherapyExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Brief Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Health Anxiety

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical CenterLead Sponsor
537 Previous Clinical Trials
2,539,626 Total Patients Enrolled
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)NIH
2,918 Previous Clinical Trials
2,739,875 Total Patients Enrolled
Robert E Brady, PhDPrincipal InvestigatorDartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

Media Library

Brief Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Health Anxiety Clinical Trial Eligibility Overview. Trial Name: NCT03789084 — N/A
Health Anxiety Research Study Groups: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Referral to mental health provider
Health Anxiety Clinical Trial 2023: Brief Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Health Anxiety Highlights & Side Effects. Trial Name: NCT03789084 — N/A
Brief Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Health Anxiety 2023 Treatment Timeline for Medical Study. Trial Name: NCT03789084 — N/A
~14 spots leftby Nov 2025
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