Multifaceted Treatment of Hypochondriasis

A new study in the American Journal of Psychiatry evaluated the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and paroxetine in treating hyponchondriasis. 112 subjects meeting DSM-IV criteria for hypochondriasis were randomly assigned to 16 weeks of outpatient treatment with CBT, paroxetine, or placebo. Using the Whiteley Index as the main outcome measure, researchers found the following treatment-response rates in the intent-to-treat and completer cohorts respectively: CBT group, 45% and 54%; paroxetine group, 30% and 38%; and placebo group, 14% and 12%. These findings suggest that paroxetine and CBT are both effective treatments of hypochondriasis. http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/164/1/91

-LS