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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffHypochondria is often a chronic condition. It can last for years because it's difficult to overcome deeply ingrained beliefs that you have a physical disease. Getting treatment earlier may offer better improvement of your symptoms, though.
Treatment of hypochondria can be difficult, especially if you aren't a willing and active participant in your care. But effective treatment is often successful. Treatment is often a joint effort between your family doctor and a mental health provider.
Treatment options: Psychotherapy and medications
The two main treatments for hypochondria are:
- Psychotherapy
- Medications
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is the primary treatment for hypochondria. Some research shows that a form of psychotherapy called cognitive behavioral therapy is most effective for hypochondria. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps you recognize and understand the false beliefs that trigger your health anxiety. It also helps you learn to stop behavior associated with your anxiety, such as constantly monitoring your body for problems, a behavior known as body vigilance. Cognitive behavioral therapy may also include exposure therapy, in which you directly confront your health fears in a safe environment and learn skills to cope with these uncomfortable sensations.
Some evidence shows that psychoeducation is also helpful. Psychoeducation helps you learn about hypochondria, why you have it and how to cope with your health fears.
Medications
Certain antidepressant medications may be helpful in treating hypochondria. Some research indicates that both selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) may help relieve such symptoms as anxiety, fear of disease and physical (somatic) problems. However, these medications can cause side effects that may actually increase your health anxiety because you may wind up attributing the side effects to a serious physical problem.
- Hypochondriasis. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association, 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed Oct. 28, 2008.
- Oyama O, et al. Somatoform disorders. American Family Physician. 2007;76(9):1333-1338.
- Abramowitz JS, et al. Hypochondriasis: Conceptualization, treatment, and relationship to obsessive-compulsive disorder. Psychiatric Clinics of North America 2006;29:503-519.
- Bouman TK, et al. A psychoeducational approach to hypochondriasis: Background, content, and practice guidelines. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice. 2008;15:231-243.
- Thomson AB, et al. Psychotherapies for hypochondriasis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2007:CD006520.
- Harding KJ, et al. Advances in understanding illness anxiety. Current Psychiatry Reports. 2008;10:311-317.
- Greenberg DB, et al. Somatization disorder. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 10, 2008.
