Hypochondriasis

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.

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 (SSD).

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

A mix of care-seeking and care-avoidance behaviors

 * This may also occur

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.

Learn more

 * Illness Anxiety Disorder - Statpearls