A chronic mental disorder in which people experience prolonged fear that they have a serious or life-threatening illness despite few or no symptoms is called illness anxiety disorder or hypochondria. Doctors often treat this condition with mental health therapy and medication.
Sometimes, this condition is called hypochondriasis. People with this disorder may also misinterpret typical body functions as symptoms of a serious health condition. On the other hand, doctors may find these fears unjustified or unrealistic because there is no supporting evidence. Unfortunately, this disorder causes fear that cannot be controlled, and it is very real to them.
Furthermore, even after tests show no problems, people with illness anxiety disorder continue to have concerns about their health. It may also negatively affect their careers, lives, and relationships. This disorder may become more severe when a person with illness anxiety disorder is diagnosed with a physical condition.
Generally, this disorder occurs very rarely, and it affects about 0.1% of people in the United States. Most of the time, first symptoms appear in early adulthood.
Types of Illness Anxiety Disorder
Experts have divided this condition into 2 categories. These include:
- Care-seeking – In this case, people spend a lot of time in healthcare settings, consult multiple specialists, and require medical tests.
- Care-avoidant – People with this type of illness anxiety disorder often avoid doctors and medical care because they do not trust them. Sometimes, they may think healthcare professionals do not take their symptoms seriously, which may worsen the symptoms.
What Are The Symptoms of Illness Anxiety Disorder?
Most people who develop this disorder experience the following symptoms. These include:
- Continuously researching disease and symptoms
- Increased levels of anxiety about personal health
- Oversharing the symptoms and health status with others
- Seeking reassurance from loved ones about your health and symptoms
- Obsession with daily body functions (such as heart rate)
- Avoiding places or people due to worry about catching an illness
- Telling others that your symptoms are severe when they are not. For example, a cough may become a sign of lung cancer)
- Healthy body functions (such as gas or sweating) are interpreted as unhealthy
Typically, if you or a loved one experiences any of the symptoms listed above, it is advised to see a doctor for a diagnosis and treatment.
Causes and Risk Factors
Healthcare providers do not know the exact cause of this condition, but they have found some factors that may increase your risk. These include:
- Extreme stress
- Other mental disorders (including anxiety and depression)
- Trauma (such as rape, emotional or physical abuse, and others)
- Health anxieties or other anxiety disorders in your family
- A family history of chronic illnesses
- Childhood trauma (including neglect or child abuse)
- Excessive web searching for diseases and symptoms
- Certain inherited personality traits
- Body sensitivity
What Are The Potential Complications of Illness Anxiety Disorder?
Those who ignore the symptoms and do not get treatment may also experience some complications. Examples include:
- Daily problems (such as difficulty managing routine tasks)
- Financial struggles due to medical bills and missed work
- Relationship strain
- Avoidance behaviors (including loved ones)
- Severe disability – In some cases, high distress may cause extreme functional impairment.
- Increased medical risks – For example, a person with this disorder may perform unnecessary or invasive medical tests that carry certain health risks.
- Other mental disorders – These include panic disorder, major depression, generalized anxiety, and others.
- Substance use – Some people with illness anxiety disorder may administer too many pain relievers, sedatives, or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines.
In severe cases, people with this disorder may have suicidal thoughts. When it occurs, you should call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. In addition, this disorder cannot be prevented because doctors do not know what causes it.
Diagnosis
Usually, to diagnose this disorder, doctors will refer to criteria listed in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5). Typically, doctors diagnose this mental disorder when you have had fear for at least 6 months, but tests show no problems. Check some criteria below:
- Constant concerns about being or becoming sick
- Lack of symptoms
- Increased anxiety levels
- Regular checkups despite good test results
- There is no better condition that can explain your symptoms
Treatment
When doctors suspect this disorder, you can be referred to a psychologist or psychiatrist to get treatment. Usually, the treatment goal is to ease the symptoms, prevent serious complications, and improve your quality of life. They often recommend:
- Antidepressants
- Anti-anxiety medicines
- Mental health therapy
- Psychotherapy (also known as talk therapy) – In most cases, doctors recommend cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that may help you cope with fears and anxieties.
What is The Difference between Illness Anxiety Disorder and Somatic Symptom Disorder?
The only difference between these conditions is that people with somatic symptom disorder really have physical symptoms, but there is no test that can pinpoint a cause of those symptoms. However, people with illness anxiety disorder may not experience any symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is illness anxiety disorder the same as hypochondria?
Yes, illness anxiety disorder is the modern medical term for what was historically called hypochondria or hypochondriasis. The condition involves excessive worry about having or developing a serious illness, even when there are few or no physical symptoms and medical evaluations do not support the feared diagnosis.
Can illness anxiety disorder cause physical symptoms?
Although people with illness anxiety disorder may have few or no physical symptoms, anxiety itself can cause real physical sensations. These may include a racing heart, dizziness, sweating, muscle tension, headaches, stomach discomfort, or shortness of breath. These sensations can then increase concerns about having a serious illness.
Can illness anxiety disorder go away on its own?
Symptoms may improve over time in some people, but illness anxiety disorder can be chronic or fluctuate in severity. Without appropriate treatment, health-related fears and behaviors may continue or become more disruptive. Mental health treatment can help people manage anxiety and reduce excessive health-related checking and reassurance-seeking.
How is illness anxiety disorder diagnosed?
A healthcare professional evaluates a person’s health concerns, symptoms, behaviors, medical history, and mental health. Doctors may perform appropriate medical tests to rule out physical conditions. A mental health professional may then assess whether the person’s persistent fear of illness and related behaviors meet diagnostic criteria for illness anxiety disorder.
Can excessive health-related internet searches make illness anxiety worse?
Yes. Repeatedly searching for symptoms and diseases online can reinforce health-related fears. A person may encounter information about serious but uncommon conditions and interpret ordinary sensations as evidence of those illnesses. Limiting symptom searches and discussing health concerns with a qualified healthcare professional may help reduce this cycle.
Is illness anxiety disorder a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?
Illness anxiety disorder and OCD are different conditions, although they can have similar features. Both may involve intrusive fears and repetitive behaviors, such as checking the body or seeking reassurance. A healthcare professional can determine which condition, or combination of conditions, best explains a person’s symptoms.
Can illness anxiety disorder affect a person’s relationships?
Yes, frequent requests for reassurance, repeated discussions about possible illnesses, medical appointments, or avoidance of activities because of health fears can place strain on relationships. Treatment can help reduce these behaviors and improve communication and daily functioning.
What type of therapy is commonly used for illness anxiety disorder?
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is commonly used to treat illness anxiety disorder. It can help people recognize unhelpful thoughts about illness, reduce excessive checking and reassurance-seeking, and develop healthier ways to respond to physical sensations and uncertainty.
Can people with illness anxiety disorder still develop a real medical condition?
Having illness anxiety disorder does not prevent a person from developing a genuine physical illness. New, persistent, severe, or changing symptoms should be medically evaluated when appropriate. Treatment focuses on managing excessive health anxiety while still allowing reasonable attention to actual health concerns.
When should someone with illness anxiety disorder seek professional help?
Someone should seek professional help when health-related fears interfere with work, school, relationships, sleep, daily activities, or quality of life, lead to repeated medical visits or testing, or cause avoidance of necessary healthcare. Immediate help is needed if the person experiences suicidal thoughts or feels unable to stay safe. Ask your physicians if you have additional questions.
