Demographic and clinical characteristics of study participants
| Group; mean ± SD, or % | ANOVA | Post hoc group comparisons* | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHA (n = 33) | DCG (n = 28) | HCG (n = 31) | |||
| Age, yr | 40.1 ± 11.8 | 43.0 ± 12.3 | 42.3 ± 13.1 | F = 0.5 | — |
| Female sex | 57.6 | 53.6 | 54.8 | χ2 = 0.1 | — |
| Education ≥ 12 yr | 78.8 | 64.3 | 67.7 | χ2 = 1.8 | — |
| Whiteley Index score | 10.6 ± 1.8 | 1.57 ± 1.35 | 0.87± 0.99 | F = 457.2 | 1 > 2,3 |
| Short Health Anxiety Inventory score | 28.9 ± 4.6 | 8.4 ± 3.5 | 5.9 ± 2.8 | F = 363.1 | 1 > 2 > 3 |
| Depressive symptoms score (PHQ-9) | 9.5 ± 4.5 | 17.0 ± 4.2 | 1.9 ± 2.4 | F = 117.1 | 2 > 1 > 3 |
| Somatic symptoms score (PHQ-15) | 11.8 ± 4.3 | 8.4 ± 4.7 | 2.1 ± 1.7 | F = 54.0 | 1 > 2 > 3 |
| Global Assessment of Functioning score | 6.83 ± 1.2 | 6.0 ± 0.9 | 9.4 ± 0.7 | F = 100.7 | 2 < 1 < 3 |
| Current DSM-IV diagnosis | |||||
| Hypochondriasis | 63.6 | 0 | 0 | χ2 = 58.9 | 1 > 2,3 |
| Somatization disorder | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | χ2 = 1.7 | — |
| Major depression | 27.3 | 85.7 | 0 | χ2 = 53.9 | 2 > 1 > 3 |
| Dysthymia | 9.1 | 46.4 | 0 | χ2 = 23.0 | 2 > 1,3 |
| Generalized anxiety disorder | 12.1 | 0 | 0 | χ2 = 5.4 | 1 > 2,3 |
| Panic disorder | 33.3 | 0 | 0 | χ2 = 20.2 | 1 > 2,3 |
| Social phobia | 15.2 | 21.4 | 0 | χ2 = 7.9 | 1,2 > 3 |
| Specific phobia | 24.2 | 10.7 | 6.5 | χ2 = 4.1 | — |
| Obsessive–compulsive disorder | 9.1 | 0 | 0 | χ2 = 3.8 | — |
| Bulimia nervosa | 3.0 | 3.6 | 0 | χ2 = 1.3 | — |
ANOVA = analysis of variance; DCG = depression control group; HCG = healthy control group; PHA = pathological health anxiety group; PHQ = Patient Health Questionnaire; SD = standard deviation.
↵* Significant differences in post hoc group comparisons are indicated by the “>” symbol.