Imagery rescripting of early memories in health anxiety disorder: A feasibility and non-randomized pilot study

Background and objectives:Health anxiety is a common problem and is associated with frequent primary carevisits, increased health care costs, and poor prognosis and low recovery rates. Previous research shows thatimagery rescripting (IR) is a promising treatment technique for various disorders. To date, IR has not beenexamined as a viable treatment for health anxiety. The purpose of the present feasibility and pilot study was totest one session of IR of early anxiety-laden health-related memories in a small sample of patients suffering fromHA.Methods:A within-groups design was used with a sample of 18 patients suffering from HA, whofirst underwenta control condition (reading about CBT), and then one week later a session of IR. After another week, the effectswere 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 andmemory distress, vividness and frequency were observed.Limitations:Among the most important limitations are the absence of an active control group, the small size ofthe 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 morecontrolled research along these lines may be worthwhile.