Hypochondria

What is clinical hypochondria?

Clinical hypochondria, also called illness anxiety disorder,, is a psychological disorder in which a person is excessively worried and anxious about having a serious illness, despite medical examinations showing no evidence of such an illness.

Main characteristics:

Excessive preoccupation with having a serious illness.

Misinterpretation or exaggeration of normal or mild physical symptoms.

Frequent seeking of medical attention or, conversely, avoidance due to fear.

Significant anxiety and distress that affect daily life.

Often, the person is not easily convinced that they are healthy, even after several negative medical tests.

Clinical diagnosis:

According to the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), the criteria include:

Preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious illness for at least 6 months.

Somatic symptoms are mild or absent.

The anxiety and illness-related behavior cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas.