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Hypochondriasis
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'''Hypochondriasis''' or '''being a hypochondriac''', now known as '''illness anxiety disorder''', is a mental illness defined by excessive worry about having a serious undiagnosed physical illness.<ref name="statpearls">{{Cite book | last = French | first = Jennifer H. | last2 = Hameed | first2 = Sajid | date = 2021 | title=Illness Anxiety Disorder |url =http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554399/|location=Treasure Island (FL)| publisher = StatPearls Publishing|pmid=32119286}}</ref> The old diagnosis of hypochondriasis was found to be very narrowly defined and stigmatizing, so it was replaced by Illness Anxiety Disorder (IAD) and [[Somatic symptom disorder|Somatic Symptom Disorder]] (SSD).<ref name="Newby2017">{{Cite journal | last = Newby | first = Jill M. | last2 = Hobbs | first2 = Megan J. | last3 = Mahoney | first3 = Alison E.J. | last4 = Wong | first4 = Shiu (Kelvin) | last5 = Andrews | first5 = Gavin | date = 2017-10-01 | title = DSM-5 illness anxiety disorder and somatic symptom disorder: Comorbidity, correlates, and overlap with DSM-IV hypochondriasis | url = https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022399917307201|journal=Journal of Psychosomatic Research|language=en|volume=101 | pages = 31β37|doi=10.1016/j.jpsychores.2017.07.010|issn=0022-3999}}</ref> ==Signs and symptoms== * Excessive and persistent [[health anxiety]] * Excessive [[anxiety]] about having or developing a serious illness * No signs or symptoms of illness are present, or any signs and symptoms are mild * The person is easily alarmed about their health * Illness preoccupation lasts at least 6 months * Symptoms significantly effect the person's functioning, which may include the impact of the cost of care-seeking behaviors * Symptoms are not better explained by another mental health condition, e.g. an anxiety disorder, OCD, or panic disorder === Care-seeking type === * Medical care is frequently used, e.g. when no signs or symptoms of illness can be found * "Doctor shopping" - frequently seeing different doctors and not feeling any reassurance when doctors do not find serious illness * Requesting many multiple tests or investigations without medical justification * Excessive and repetitive checking for signs or symptoms of illness === Care-avoidant type === * Medical care is rarely used, may include maladaptive avoidance of doctors and hospitals when care is needed * Excessive fears that medical tests or doctors will find a serious illness, resulting in avoiding care<ref name="DSM-5">{{Cite book |editor-last = American Psychiatric Association | authorlink = | date = 2013 | title = Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders|edition =5 | url = |publisher =American Psychiatric Publishing|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0890425574 | pages = 315}}</ref> === A mix of care-seeking and care-avoidance behaviors === * This may also occur<ref name="Newby2017" /> ==Treatment== ==ME/CFS== According to the [[Institute of Medicine]], ME/CFS is a serious, chronic, and complex physical disease. It is not associated with increased rates of illness anxiety or unhelpful/problematic [[illness beliefs]] and behaviors.<ref name="SEID-IOM2015">{{Cite book | last = Institute of Medicine | authorlink = Institute of Medicine | title = Beyond Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Redefining an Illness|location=Washington, DC| publisher = The National Academies Press | date = 2015 | url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK284902/|isbn=0309316898|pmid = 25695122|doi = 10.17226/19012 }}</ref> ==Notable articles== ==See also== * [[Health anxiety]] * [[Biopsychosocial model]] * [[Illness beliefs]] ==Learn more== *[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554399/ Illness Anxiety Disorder] - Statpearls ==References== {{reflist}} [[Category:Diagnoses]] [[Category:Psychological paradigm]] [[Category:Mental disorders]]
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