What Is Hypochondria? You Must Avoid Developing This Serious Illness
Dec 14, 2023, 21:59 IST
Srishti Sisodia
Image credit: Pixabay
Dec 14, 2023, 21:59 IST
Srishti Sisodia
Illness anxiety disorder (IAD) was previously known as hypochondriasis and sometimes informally referred to as hypochondria.
It is a mental health disorder that involves an intense fear of having or developing a serious illness.
People with illness anxiety disorder are hyper-focused on their physical health.
People with the disorder are unable to shake their fears despite normal physical exams and lab tests. Some may change doctors repeatedly. Others may avoid medical care.
A large Swedish study has uncovered a paradox about people diagnosed with an excessive fear of serious illness.
A large Swedish study has uncovered a paradox about people diagnosed with an excessive fear of serious illness.
Dr Jonathan E Alpert of Montefiore Medical Center in New York - "Many of us are mild hypochondriacs. But there are also people on the other extreme of the spectrum who live in a perpetual state of worry and suffering and rumination about having a serious illness."
The researchers found that people with the diagnosis have an increased risk of death from both natural and unnatural causes, particularly suicide.
They said that chronic stress and its impact on the body could explain some of the differences.