Interventions for Hypochondriasis in Primary Care

To the Editor: Drs Barsky and Ahern¹ reported that compared with usual care, a cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) intervention in primary care, enhanced by a letter to the primary care physician that outlined the treatment strategy, improved hypochondriacal beliefs, attitudes, and anxieties, but did not significantly affect hypochondriacal somatic symptoms. I am concerned that the results do not necessarily support the use of this labor-intensive treatment.