|
|
Article: Interoceptive Exposure in the Treatment of Health Anxiety and Hypochondriasis
- Article from:
- Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy
- Article date:
- December 1, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright Springer Publishing Company 2008. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
|
The experience of health anxiety is seen in a range of different anxiety and somatoform disorders. Bodily sensations are often cues for anxiety or emotional distress in persons with problems with health anxiety and hypochondriasis. In treating these problems, there are advantages to including interoceptive exposure (IE) as a component of treatment. We explore the frequency of problems with bodily symptoms in community and clinical populations, the assessment of physical symptoms, and the theoretical rationale for the use of IE in treatment. This exposure strategy involves deliberately and repeatedly producing feared bodily sensations. Given that some of the anxiety-producing symptoms ...