Effective Nursing Interventions For Patients With High Health Anxiety: An Integrative Literature Review

Effective Nursing Interventions For Patients With High Health Anxiety: An Integrative Literature Review

Christina Hetz

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Young-Me Lee, PhD, RN, Larry Maturin MSN, APN, ACNS-BC, CEN, CCRN

Background: Patients with high health anxiety over seek medical services, resulting unnecessary and possibly invasive tests, consultations, and medication. This behavior ultimately results in iatrogenesis and causes symptoms of high health anxiety to increase.

Aim: The purpose of this integrative literature review was to identify interventions to lessen symptoms of high health anxiety, and the healthcare providers most successful in providing these interventions.

Method: An integrative literature review was conducted using the databases of CINAHL, PubMed, and PsychInfo. Search terms included hypochond*, somatic symptom disorder, health anxiety, intervention, management or treatment, and nurs*.

Results: The literature revealed a significant decrease in symptoms of high health anxiety through two therapeutic interventions, including cognitive behavior therapy and exposure therapy. The patients used those intervention decreased symptoms of high health anxiety, resulting in decreased seeking behaviors. Nurses who have undergone appropriate training were shown to be the most effective therapists of choice for patients with high health anxiety.

Conclusion: This review identified two main interventions that lessen the symptoms of high health anxiety: cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy. Further studies are needed to evaluate the long-term efficacy of the interventions. Additional information is also needed on nurse-led interventions.

Key Words: Health Anxiety, Hypochondria, Nursing, Interventions, Treatment