Psychotherapeutic management of hypochondriasis: a case study

• Main Authors: Shilpi Aggarwal, Prashant Srivastava
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Academy Publisher 2017-06-01
• Series: Open Journal of Psychiatry and Allied Sciences
• Subjects: Stressor; Beliefs; Functioning
• Online Access: http://www.ojpas.com/get_file.php?id=31516941&vnr=922607

Objectives: The present study aims to explore the course of hypochondriasis and to assess the efficacy of psychotherapeutic management in alleviating the symptoms associated with hypochondriasis and to improve the client’s overall functioning. Research design: Case study. Sample and method: This study was carried out in Delhi and 18 years old unmarried male was included. Treatment plan was formulated according to psychotherapeutic management wherein different management techniques were utilised to modify the client’s hypochondriacal beliefs and the associated behaviours. Result: Findings of the assessment showed significant distress and impairment in overall functioning. Stressor activates his dysfunctional belief which shifts his attention to minor bodily perturbations and results in misinterpretation of these trivial variations. Psychotherapeutic management techniques successfully restructured his dysfunctional beliefs and remarkably improved his functioning. Conclusion: On the basis of results, it can be ascertained that psychotherapeutic management is an effective approach to treat hypochondriasis.