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Imagery and Core Beliefs in Health Anxiety: Content and Origins

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 June 2009

Adrian Wells  and
Ann Hackmann
Adrian Wells
Affiliation:
University of Oxford
Ann Hackmann
Affiliation:
University of Oxford
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Abstract

A preliminary investigation of the content and origins of intrusive imagery and core beliefs as they occur in health anxiety is reported. The exploration of patients' images proved to be a particularly effective means of determining underlying core beliefs. Images appeared to reflect a wider range of idiosyncratic meanings than were apparent in the automatic thoughts alone. Two types of core beliefs were revealed by the images: beliefs about the self, and beliefs about death and illness and their implications, which included themes to do with abandonment and isolation. All patients had metaphysical or superstitious beliefs. It is suggested that a conjunction between the beliefs about the self and those about death and illness may contribute to individual tendencies to misinterpret bodily sensations in health anxiety.

Type
Clinical Section
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 21 , Issue 3 , July 1993 , pp. 265 - 273
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 1993

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