RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Health anxiety is a common problem and is associated with frequent primary care visits, increased health care costs, and poor prognosis and low recovery rates. Previous research shows that imagery rescripting (IR) is a promising treatment technique for various disorders. To date, IR has not been examined as a viable treatment for health anxiety. The purpose of the present feasibility and pilot study was to test one session of IR of early anxiety-laden health-related memories in a small sample of patients suffering from HA. METHODS: A within-groups design was used with a sample of 18 patients suffering from HA, who first underwent a control condition (reading about CBT), and then one week later a session of IR. After another week, the effects were measured on self-reported health anxiety and early anxiety provoking health-related mental images (memories). RESULTS: After the IR intervention, significant reductions of health anxiety and health worry, as well as image and memory distress, vividness and frequency were observed. LIMITATIONS: Among the most important limitations are the absence of an active control group, the small size of the sample, the absence of a longer follow-up, and the use of only self-report measures. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that IR is a feasible technique in the treatment of health anxiety, and that more controlled research along these lines may be worthwhile.
