Hypochondria (Illness-Related Anxiety Disorder): Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

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15 minutes ago

Illness-related anxiety disorder, formerly known as hypochondria, manifests as an excessive and persistent preoccupation with developing or suffering from a serious condition, despite the absence of medical evidence. Affected individuals often interpret trivial bodily sensations—palpitations, headaches, temporary pain—as warning signs of a serious condition, leading to ongoing emotional distress, repeated medical visits, and significant disruption to daily life. Understanding this mechanism allows for early detection of symptoms and effective management, leading to the regaining of serenity and confidence in one’s body.

What is hypochondria?

Formerly known as “hypochondria,” this condition is now recognized as an anxiety disorder related to illness according to the DSM-5. It manifests itself through:

an excessive fear of being affected by an illness;

excessive concern about one’s health and the proper functioning of one’s body.

Good to know : One of the first images that comes to mind when we think of hypochondria is Dany Boon’s film Supercondriaque , which follows the incredible misadventures of a patient suffering from this disorder. As an anecdote, the comedian’s inspiration for the film’s hero came from himself, a hypochondriac! Less recently, we are familiar with Molière’s “Le Malade Imaginaire,” whose protagonist Argan is ready to do anything – even the most bizarre – to preserve his health. Moreover, hypochondria is sometimes called ” arganism ,” in reference to the name of Argan’s character in Le Malade Imaginaire! While these images tend to make many people smile, it is quite different for hyponchondriacs, given the suffering this pathology generates.

How do you know if you are a hypochondriac?

No test or examination can detect hypochondria. The diagnosis made by a doctor is purely clinical. The DSM-5 (the standard reference book for mental disorders) lists many criteria for determining hypochondria.

Typically, a hypochondriac presents:

Misinterpretation or exaggeration of minor physical signs, leading him to believe he is ill;

Excessive preoccupation with one’s body and how it functions. This idea can end up becoming an obsession and cause upheaval in family, professional, or social life due to problems with absenteeism or misunderstandings with those around them.

We begin to talk about hypochondria in the case of disorders persisting beyond 6 months.

The person suffering from hypochondria or anxiety disorder due to the disease also consults: Various medical sites and books to try to find out more about the pathology she thinks she is suffering from;

Frequently visits his doctor, due to his anxiety and multiple medical examinations and check-ups, without being reassured. This can lead to significant medical nomadism.

Currently, more and more “non-essential” medical procedures are being performed, solely to reassure the patient who is delusional about his or her state of health. In addition, due to worries about the illness, the hypochondriac may herself cause certain symptoms such as breathing difficulties or dizziness, direct consequences of her anxieties.

Hypochondria or nosophobia?

Be careful not to confuse these two disorders: hypochondria with nosophobia. The latter disorder, also called ” medical student syndrome,” concerns the fear of getting sick. Two points (subtle but essential) distinguish these two entities:

In nosophobia, the fear most often concerns one or more specific diseases, whereas the hypochondriac fears all diseases.

The nosophobe is afraid of catching a disease, while the person suffering from hypochondria is convinced that they have already caught it.

A third disorder, mysophobia, is distinguished from the previous two. The table below gives a brief overview of their differences:


Name	Description
Hypochondria	Excessive anxiety about a serious illness
Nosophobia	Irrational fear of contracting a specific disease
Mysophobia	Excessive fear of germs and contamination

Who is more likely to become a hypochondriac?

Hypochondria affects both women and men. While it can occur at any age—including childhood—the preferred period for the onset of hypochondria is between the ages of 20 and 30. Hypochondria can develop following a specific psychological event (usually sudden and difficult to cope with) and sometimes tends to worsen with age.

Some people, especially those with an underlying anxiety disorder, may be more likely to develop hypochondriasis.

How to live with a hypochondriac?

Given the overwhelming health concerns of those suffering from anxiety disorder, cohabitation can sometimes be difficult due to multiple anxieties and possible depression. So, what can be done?

Reassure the hypochondriac?

This is the solution that comes naturally to most people around them, whose goal is to calm the fears and anxieties of the person suffering from this disorder. The problem with this attitude is that it risks perpetuating the phenomenon. The hypochondriac never feels fully reassured! It can also revive anxieties: the patient feels obliged to make more efforts to convince those around them that their fears are justified and therefore sinks deeper into their delusions.

Tell her off and try to make her understand that she doesn’t have a physical illness.

This alternative generally doesn’t produce better results: it pushes the patient further into solitude. Ignoring them? Same risks and same results.

Listen to him!

One of the best ways to help a delusional hypochondriac is to listen (really listen), without making fun of them. You can encourage them to be more open about their feelings and deep emotions during times of tension or psychosis. The goal is to help them understand that even if their symptoms are real, it is their interpretation that is wrong. Finally, when the situation is beyond your control daily, it may be necessary to hand over to a specialist doctor.

Is anxiety disorder (hypochondria) treated?

Treating hypochondria is generally difficult, as the affected person often tends to deny any psychological origin to the symptoms associated with their disorder, and therefore requires appropriate treatment. Possible solutions include:

Psychotherapy with a psychiatrist or psychologist: these professionals occupy a prominent place. We can consider brief therapies, family therapies, and body therapies, depending on the patient’s situation and their level of depression.

Drug alternatives: In addition to psychotherapy, these alternatives can provide help. The most commonly used treatments for people with hypochondria are antidepressants and anxiolytics.

Other, more atypical alternatives can also be considered, such as hypnosis, relaxation, meditation, or sophrology. They can help the hypochondriac to reduce their general level of anxiety, their worries about their symptoms, or even alleviate them.

Finally, lifestyle should not be neglected: a balanced diet, sufficient quality sleep, knowing how to avoid excesses… This helps to avoid a resurgence of symptoms that could lead to new anxieties and psychosis. It’s all a question of balance!