Hypochondriasis, Illness Anxiety Disorder

Daniel R. Matta, MD and Nicholette B Fox, MD Reviewed 06/2022

BASICS

DESCRIPTION

Illness anxiety disorder (IAD), formerly known as hypochondriasis, is a psychiatric disorder defined by the preoccupation of having or acquiring a serious medical illness despite ben...

DIAGNOSIS

In DSM5, hypochondriasis has been redefined as IAD, partly because the term hypochondriac held a negative connotation for patients. This term has since been replaced by two concepts:

Somatic...

TREATMENT

The goals of treatment should focus on improving the patient’s quality of life, relief of symptoms, and avoidance of unnecessary or excessive laboratory, radiologic, or other procedures.

GENERAL MEASURES

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Protect the patient from unnecessary and excessive laboratory and radiologic tests.

Patient Monitoring

Appointments should be scheduled regardless of whether the p...

REFERENCES

French JH, Hameed S. Illness anxiety disorder. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021.

Espiridion ED, Fuchs A, Oladunjoye AO. Illness anxiety disorder...

ADDITIONAL READING

Taylor L, Brooks B. Strategies to manage the patient with health anxiety. JAAPA. 2013;26(1):61–62. [View Abstract on OvidMedline]

CODES

ICD10

F45.21 Hypochondriasis
F45.22 Body dysmorphic disorder
F45.29 Other hypochondriacal disorders
F45.20 Hypochondriacal disorder, unspecified

SNOMED

18193002 Hypochondriasis (disorder)
83482000 body...

CLINICAL PEARLS

Illness Anxiety Disorder (formerly called hypochondrias) is the preoccupation with fears of having, or the idea of having, a serious disease that persists despite appropriate medical e...

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