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Cited by 130Psychosomatic Disorders and Their TreatmentsAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesMedicine, History, and Philosophy

Test of an Interpersonal Model of Hypochondriasis

Noyes, Russell, Stuart, Scott P., Langbehn, Douglas R., Happel, Rachel L., Longley, Susan L., Muller, Barbara A., Yagla, Steven J.·2003·Psychosomatic Medicine
DOI 10.1097/01.psy.0000058377.50240.64
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to test the interpersonal model of hypochondriasis proposed by Stuart and Noyes. According to this model, hypochondriasis is associated with insecure attachment that in adults gives rise to abnormal care-seeking behavior. Such behavior is associated with interpersonal difficulties and strained patient-physician relationships. METHODS: One hundred sixty-two patients attending a general medicine clinic were interviewed and asked to complete self-report measures. Instruments included the Whiteley Index of Hypochondriasis, Somatic Symptom Inventory, Relationship Scales Questionnaire, Inventory of Interpersonal Problems, NEO Five-Factor Index, and measures of physician-patient interaction. The Structured Diagnostic Interview for DSM-III-R Hypochondriasis was also administered. RESULTS: Hypochondriacal and somatic symptoms were positively correlated with all of the insecure attachment styles, especially the fearful style. These same symptoms were positively correlated with self-reported interpersonal problems and negatively correlated with patient ratings of satisfaction with, and reassurance from, medical care. Hypochondriacal and somatic symptoms were also positively correlated with neuroticism. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that hypochondriacal patients are insecurely attached and have interpersonal problems that extend to and include the patient-physician relationship. These data support the proposed interpersonal model of hypochondriasis.

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  • The interpersonal model proposes that anxious and insecure attachments derived from caregivers in early childhood lead to increased maladaptive care-seeking behaviours and reassurance seeking in adulthood.

    “The other major theory of health anxiety is based on the interpersonal model [36]. This model proposes that anxious and insecure attachments derived from caregivers in early childhood leads to increased maladaptive care-seeking behaviours and reassurance seeking in adulthood [37].”

    From Illness Anxiety Disorder: A Review of the Current Research and Future Directions (2024) · cites this paper as [37]

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Authors
Noyes, R., Stuart, S. P., Langbehn, D. R., Happel, R. L., Longley, S. L., Muller, B. A., & Yagla, S. J.
Affiliations
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US)
Corresponding author
Noyes, Russell
ORCID
Venue
Psychosomatic Medicine
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Published
2003-03
Volume
65
Issue
2
Pages
292-300
ISSN
0033-3174 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1097/01.psy.0000058377.50240.64
OpenAlex
W2040460215
Cited by
130
References
64
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 7
FWCI
2.86
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Psychosomatic Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Medicine, History, and Philosophy
Keywords
health anxiety, interpersonal model, insecure attachment, attachment styles, fearful attachment, somatic symptoms, care-seeking behavior, physician-patient relationship, interpersonal problems, neuroticism, patient satisfaction
MeSH terms
Adult, Female, Humans, Hypochondriasis, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Middle Aged, Models, Psychological, Object Attachment, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Personality Tests, Physician-Patient Relations, Surveys and Questionnaires

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