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Table 1 Essentials of specific elements of cognitive behaviour therapy for health anxiety

From: CHAMP: Cognitive behaviour therapy for health anxiety in medical patients, a randomised controlled trial

Listing of all symptoms and how the patient interprets them

Formulation of worst fears

Introducing possibility of alternative explanations (eg pie charts and pyramids)

Evaluation of risk of disease

Considering the price paid for health anxiety

Exploring the hypothesis of fear of disease being more likely than actual disease

Building evidence by identifying symptom patterns that are related to those of anxiety (ie diary keeping)

Reducing behaviour that maintains health anxiety such as excessive bodily checking and reassurance seeking