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The relevance of health anxiety to chronic pain: Research findings and recommendations for assessment and treatment

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Abstract

Health anxiety is a dimensional construct that is characterized by extreme concern about one’s health at one end of the continuum and lack of concern about health on the other. Research evidence is consistent with the notion that high levels of health anxiety among patients with pain represent a poor prognostic indicator. Moreover, the experience of chronic pain can serve to increase health anxiety levels. This article concludes with a series of practical recommendations to assist practitioners in the assessment and management of patients with health anxiety.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Regina, S4S 0A2, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

    Heather D. Hadjistavropoulos PhD & Thomas Hadjistavropoulos PhD

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  1. Heather D. Hadjistavropoulos PhD
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  2. Thomas Hadjistavropoulos PhD
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Hadjistavropoulos, H.D., Hadjistavropoulos, T. The relevance of health anxiety to chronic pain: Research findings and recommendations for assessment and treatment. Current Science Inc 7, 98–104 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-003-0019-z

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