Cited by 161Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesPsychosomatic Disorders and Their TreatmentsCOVID-19 and Mental Health

Health anxiety disorders: A cognitive construal

Rachman, S.·2012·Behaviour Research and Therapy

Abstract

The features of severe health anxiety, intense and persistent anxiety about one's present and future health, are described. In common with other anxiety disorders such as GAD, PTSD and OCD, the core of HAD is distressing, uncontrollable anxiety, and is classifiable as an Anxiety Disorder, Health Anxiety Disorder (HAD). The cognitive construal of HAD proposes that health anxiety is caused by catastrophic misinterpretations of the significance of sensations and/or changes in bodily functions and appearance (such as swellings, pain, loss of energy, dizzy spells). The nature, causes, triggers, persistence, assessment and treatment of HAD are reviewed, and the present status of the cognitive model is appraised. Suggestions are made for future research and clinical applications, and the need for incisive evaluations of the main premises of the model is emphasized.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.brat.2012.05.001

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  • These beliefs contribute to catastrophic misinterpretations of the significance of health-related stimuli, leading to intense anxiety.

    “It is proposed that these beliefs contribute to catastrophic misinterpretations of the significance of health-related stimuli, such as bodily sensations or changes in bodily functions or appearance, leading to intense anxiety [45].”

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Authors
Rachman, S.
Affiliations
University of London (GB)
Corresponding author
Rachman, S.
Venue
Behaviour Research and Therapy
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2012-08
Volume
50
Issue
7-8
Pages
502-512
ISSN
0005-7967 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1990760775
Cited by
161
References
96
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 6
FWCI
1.18
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Behaviour Research and Therapy (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › COVID-19 and Mental Health
Keywords
catastrophic misinterpretation, cognitive models, somatic symptoms, bodily sensations, anxiety disorders, health anxiety, cognitive construal
MeSH terms
Anxiety Disorders, Attitude to Health, Cognition Disorders, Humans, Hypochondriasis, Models, Psychological, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Personality Inventory, Safety, Health Behavior, Panic Disorder

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