Somatic complaints in a healthy population: effectiveness and working mechanisms of a worry reduction intervention

Abstract

Background. Somatic Complaints (SCs; e.g. headaches) are extremely common in primary healthcare. If there is no clear pathology, medical professionals cannot always adequately help people presenting with these complaints. Former research has established a link between worry and SCs. Brosschot and van der Doef found a prospective relation between worry and SCs and yielded promising results for a Worry Reduction Intervention (WRI) in adolescents and children with SCs. The WRI consists of a simple postponement instruction for worries during the day, to a self-chosen 30-minute ‘worry-window’ at night. The current study replicates the former study with minor refinements in young adults with SCs and additionally assesses body awareness as a working mechanism and alexithymia as a moderator of the WRI. Methods. 120 young adults (aged 18-26) with health worries and SCs are randomly assigned to the intervention (worry registration + WRI) or control group (worry registration). Both groups fill out pre-, between- and post-measures on body awareness, alexithymia, repetitive negative thinking and SCs. The study period lasts 6 days. Worries are registered using an experience sampling-application. Mixed-model analysis will be used to analyze the data. Expected results. (1) A reduction of worry duration and SCs because of the WRI, (2) body awareness to be a working mechanism of this relation and (3) alexithymia to be a moderator of this relation. Current stage. Halfway through data-collection phase, planning to finish May, 2016. Discussion. The WRI is a short-term intervention, which can possibly be an acceptable, feasible option for people with SCs.