Publication Search

Health anxiety is a psychological condition characterized by excessive and persistent worry about having or developing a serious illness despite the absence of objective medical evidence. Among adolescents, health anxiety often manifests through recurrent somatic complaints that lead to repeated visits to primary health care services. This study aims to describe the dynamics of health anxiety in an adolescent and to examine the early response to a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention delivered in a primary health care setting. This research employed a clinical case study design with a descriptive qualitative approach supported by quantitative assessment data. The participant was an adolescent presenting with recurrent physical complaints without identifiable medical pathology. Data were collected through clinical interviews, behavioral observation, and standardized psychological instruments, namely the Short Health Anxiety Inventory (HAI-18) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15). Quantitative analysis focused on pre- and post-intervention score comparison, calculation of change scores, and the Reliable Change Index to evaluate individual-level change. The findings revealed a high level of health anxiety accompanied by low severity of somatic symptoms, indicating that psychological distress was primarily driven by maladaptive cognitive interpretations rather than physical pathology. Following the CBT intervention, a reduction in health anxiety scores was observed, reflecting an early improvement, although the change did not reach statistical significance based on the Reliable Change Index. These results suggest that CBT may produce meaningful early changes in health anxiety when implemented in primary health care settings, even with brief intervention formats. The study highlights the importance of early psychological assessment and intervention for adolescents with recurrent somatic complaints and supports the integration of mental health services within primary health care. However, findings should be interpreted cautiously due to the single-case design, and further research with larger samples and longitudinal follow-up is recommended

Breakups often trigger psychological conflict ranging from stress, anxiety, depression, to risky behavior that have an impact on individual well-being and the social environment. This study explores the role of law in preventing, responding to, and recovering such psychological impacts through an interdisciplinary approach. The methodology used is a normative-juridical study combined with a literature review of clinical psychology and mental health policy. The findings show that the legal framework can function on three levels: (1) preventive, through the guarantee of the right to mental health, digital literacy, and platform governance to prevent post-breakup online harassment; (2) protective, through victim protection mechanisms against psychological violence, stalking, doxing, and the dissemination of non-consensual intimate content; and (3) curative, with a referral scheme for counseling services, the provision of legal aid, data confidentiality guarantees, and restorative justice instruments centered on victim recovery. However, there are implementation gaps, including the lack of standardization of psychological assessments in the legal process, limited access to services at the grassroots level, and coordination between institutions that are not optimal. This article recommends the integration of mental health protocols in the law enforcement process, evidentiary guidelines for psychological violence, as well as cross-sectoral collaboration with psychological service providers and digital platforms. The main contribution of this study is the mapping of a comprehensive legal intervention framework for post-breakup psychological conflicts.