Meditation and psychotherapy together could help with health anxiety that affects 5% of population

24 September 2008

Oxford University psychologists are beginning a trial in the Oxford area to examine whether a combination of modern psychotherapy techniques and ancient meditation can benefit those suffering persistent worries about their health.

The team at the Department of Psychiatry, Oxford University will offer classes designed to help people who worry excessively about their health cope with their fears in more effective ways.

The new approach, called mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, brings together modern cognitive behaviour therapy with the ancient practice of mindfulness meditation. Trial participants will learn to take a different attitude to their worries and recognise when their fears might spiral out of control.

'The course includes basic education about health anxiety and cognitive therapy exercises that show how best to respond when anxiety is triggered,' explains Professor Mark Williams, Director of the Oxford Mindfulness Centre. 'These techniques are taught alongside meditation practices to calm the mind and help participants to distinguish between real problems and those they can let go of.'

Health anxiety, which used to be known by the now-pejorative label hypochondria, is a clinical problem for about 5% of the population, causing significant distress or preventing people being able to live their life in the way that they would like.

While a short-lived anxiety about health is a normal reaction to unexplained symptoms, physical illness or medical tests, this health anxiety can persist in some people. Those with severe health anxiety can become consumed with worries about their health and find it difficult dismiss thoughts about illness, even when they recognize that their fears are unrealistic.

'The [mindfulness-based cognitive therapy] classes helped me to see that my fears about my health were just that: fears rather than facts,' said a patient with health anxiety. 'The fears haven't gone away completely but I feel much more in tune with my own needs and more in control of how I am affected by day-to-day worries.'

Health anxiety sufferers may visit their GP frequently and are likely to seek a second opinion when they are told there is nothing physically wrong. They also run the risk of undergoing unnecessary medical tests or receiving unneeded medications.

'Currently there is little help available to people who worry excessively about their health, meaning the burden often falls on their families and GPs,' says Dr Freda McManus of the Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, and the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. 'We are on the verge of making important breakthroughs in treatment for health anxiety that is both acceptable to patients and can be made accessible in their local community.'

The Oxford team are looking for 60 people in the Oxfordshire area who have experienced significant worry about their health for at least six months and are aged between 18-70.

Those interested in participating in the trial should contact the Oxford Mindfulness Centre for further information on 01865 613143 or freda.mcmanus@psych.ox.ac.uk. There is no obligation to take part and all information is strictly confidential.

For more information please contact Dr Freda McManus, University of Oxford Department of Psychiatry, on 01865 613143 or freda.mcmanus @psych.ox.ac.uk.

Or the Press Office, University of Oxford, 01865 280530, press.office@admin.ox.ac.uk.