How to effectively support people experiencing health anxiety

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Mental health

How to effectively support people experiencing health anxiety

19 July 2023

Anna Elders

Wednesday 19 July 2023, 12:20 AM

Technology offers not only a wealth of information that can contribute to health anxiety but also immediately accessible tools that can help treat anxiety [Image: Rob Hampson on Unsplash]

This article looks at what happens when navigating health uncertainty becomes too much to bear, then summarises the support and treatment you can provide

This Practice article has been endorsed by the RNZCGP and has been approved for up to 0.25 credits for continuing professional development purposes (1, Educate small, BACK panel - grey

COVID-19

References

1. Tyrer P, Tyrer H. Health anxiety: detection and treatment. BJPsych Advances 2018;24(1):66–72.

2. Heinen A, Varghese S, Krayem A, Molodynski A. Understanding health anxiety in the COVID-19 pandemic. Int J Soc Psychiatry 2022;68(8):1756–63.

3. Kupcova I, Danisovic L, Klein M, Harsanyi S. Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, anxiety, and depression. BMC Psychol 2023;11(1):108.

4. Tyrer P. COVID-19 health anxiety. World Psychiatry 2020;19(3):307–08.

5. Andrews G, Bell C, Boyce P, et al. Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of panic disorder, social anxiety disorder and generalised anxiety disorder. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2018;52(12):1109–72.

6. Newby JM, Mahoney AEJ, Mason EC, et al. Pilot trial of a therapist-supported internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy program for health anxiety. Internet Interv 2016;6:71–79.

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