A Case Study of an Adolescent With Health Anxiety and OCD, Treated Using CBT: Single‐Case Experimental Design
Abstract
PROBLEM: The sparse research evidence base for adolescents with health anxiety proposes a challenge in the treatment of such mental health difficulties. Similarities are drawn between health anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in terms of their development and maintenance. The literature is reviewed and discussed in relation to the referral, assessment, formulation, cognitive behavioral intervention, and treatment outcome. METHODS: The case of an adolescent girl (aged 15 years) who presented with significant levels of health anxiety and OCD is described. An adult cognitive behavioral model of health anxiety was adapted and integrated with evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for children and adolescents with OCD. These models were used to collaboratively conceptualize the young person's presenting difficulties. A single-case experimental design was employed to assess the effectiveness of the intervention. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION: Routine outcome measures demonstrated the effectiveness of the OCD intervention, and the need for further research in health anxiety in young people, including the development of disorder and age-specific measures. The implications for the use of CBT to treat health anxiety for young people are discussed.
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In children and adolescents, the use of CBT for health anxiety has only been reported in a single case study.
“In children and adolescents, the use of CBT for HA has only been reported in a single case study (Roberts-Collins, 2016).”
From Third wave treatments for functional somatic syndromes and health anxiety across the age span: A narrative review (2019) · cites this paper as Roberts-Collins, 2016
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“In children and adolescents, the use of CBT for HA has only been reported in a single case study (Roberts-Collins, 2016).”
BackgroundPetersen, J. M., Donahue, M. L., Capel, L. K., Bowers, E. M., Woolley, M. G., Boghosian, S., & Twohig, M. P. (2024) · Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science · doi:10.1016/j.jcbs.2024.100764 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
- Authors
- Roberts‐Collins, C.
- Affiliations
- University of Bath (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Roberts‐Collins, Cara
- Venue
- Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2016-05
- Volume
- 29
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 95-104
- ISSN
- 1073-6077 (ISSN-L)
- 1744-6171
- OpenAlex
- W2395494082
- Cited by
- 11
- References
- 10
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2019: 1
- FWCI
- 0.47
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychological Treatments and Assessments
- Keywords
- health anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, adolescents, cognitive behavioral therapy, treatment outcomes, treatment formulation
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Anxiety Disorders, Female, Humans, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Research Design, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
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