Prediction of psychological reactions to bone density screening for osteoporosis using a cognitive-behavioral model of health anxiety

Katharine A. Rimes*, Paul M. Salkovskis

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Pre-screening measures derived from a cognitive-behavioral theory of health anxiety were significant predictors of individual differences in post-screening reactions to a health screening procedure, bone densitometry. Predictors included specific illness beliefs (vulnerability, severity/consequences, coping and treatment) and general health anxiety measures. Three months after a low bone mineral density (BMD) result, women with high levels of pre-existing general health anxiety gave higher ratings of anxiety about osteoporosis and perceived likelihood of developing osteoporosis than women with low levels of pre-existing health anxiety, even though the two groups' initial ratings had not differed significantly. Women with a low BMD result generally showed "minimization" of the seriousness of low BMD but women with very high levels of pre-existing health anxiety did not. After a high BMD result, highly health anxious women were only temporarily reassured. The results were consistent with the cognitive-behavioral analysis of health anxiety.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)359-381
Number of pages23
JournalBehaviour Research and Therapy
Volume40
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2002
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental Health

Keywords

  • Anxiety
  • Bone density
  • Cognitive-behavioral
  • Minimization
  • Osteoporosis
  • Screening

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