Somatic symptom and related disorders
Illness Anxiety Disorder
Illness anxiety disorder involves persistent preoccupation with having or developing a serious illness despite absent or mild physical symptoms, with high health anxiety and repeated checking or avoidance.
A cycle of health fear
A normal sensation, minor finding or story about illness may be interpreted as evidence of serious disease. Some people repeatedly check their body, seek tests and reassurance or search online; others avoid doctors, hospitals or exercise from fear of confirmation.
The diagnosis never means ‘nothing is wrong’. A real medical condition or elevated health risk can coexist. New or changing symptoms still need appropriate medical assessment without feeding an endless cycle of testing.
Assessment
- The preoccupation persists for at least six months, although the feared disease may change.
- When a medical condition or genuine high risk exists, the anxiety is clearly excessive or disproportionate to the evidence.
- Clinicians distinguish the pattern from somatic symptom disorder, panic, GAD, OCD, delusional disorder and other causes of health concern.
Treatment
Regular planned appointments with one coordinating clinician can provide consistent medical monitoring while reducing fragmented emergency visits. CBT helps examine catastrophic interpretations, tolerate uncertainty and reduce checking, reassurance and avoidance.
Changes to online searching and self-monitoring are planned gradually rather than ignoring genuine warning signs. Co-occurring depression or anxiety receives its appropriate treatment.
When to seek help
Seek help when health fear occupies much of the day, drives repeated tests or avoidance of necessary care and affects work or relationships. New chest pain, fainting, bleeding or neurological symptoms need appropriate urgent medical assessment.