What is hypochondriasis in psychology?

Illness anxiety disorder, sometimes called hypochondriasis or health anxiety, is worrying excessively that you are or may become seriously ill. You may have no physical symptoms.

What is the difference between hypochondria and hypochondriasis?

Hypochondriasis or hypochondria is a condition in which a person is excessively and unduly worried about having a serious illness….

What is an example of hypochondria?

Hypochondriacs experience extreme anxiety from the bodily responses most people take for granted. For example, they may be convinced that something as simple as a sneeze is the sign they have a horrible disease.

Is hypochondriasis a personality disorder?

Symptoms of hypochondriasis are sometimes attributed to personality psychopathology by health care providers.

Can hypochondria be cured?

Hypochondria is hard to treat, but experts have made progress. Several studies show that using antidepressants, such as Prozac and Luvox, can help. Antianxiety medications are also used to treat the disorder. Barsky and other researchers say that cognitive-behavioral therapy also works.

What triggers hypochondria?

Trauma or abuse. Experiencing physical or emotional trauma can lead to hypochondria. This can include previous health trauma caused by the person having a serious illness, or by observing someone else experience a serious illness. People who experience extreme stress which they cannot relieve are also vulnerable.

What is the best treatment for hypochondria?

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and the antidepressant drug fluoxetine (FLX) have both been shown to be effective treatments for hypochondriasis.

Does hypochondria go away?

Usually, this anxiety or fear wears off once we realize that our thoughts are exaggerated or after we check in with a doctor and learn that everything’s okay. But for some people with illness anxiety disorder (previously referred to as hypochondriasis), it doesn’t go away.

How do you comfort a hypochondriac?

Don’t dwell on illness. Encourage them to verbalize fears about their health, but don’t join in. Be supportive, but don’t show too much concern and try to stay neutral in your answers. Express that you understand their struggle, without encouraging their obsessive thoughts.

What are the causes of hypochondria?

One of the main causes of hypochondria is panic disorder, although technically a person would be diagnosed with panic disorder and not hypochondriasis. It’s caused by an oversensitivity to the way a person feels, combined with serious panic attacks that mimic terrible diseases – all leading to the person feeling…

Why do people get hypochondria?

There is no exact cause for the development of hypochondria. Some individuals who develop the condition may do so as a result of personality traits, life experiences and hereditary factors. Hypochondria shares similar traits with obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety disorders and panic disorders.

Is hypochondria a mental illness?

Hypochondriasis or hypochondria is a mental illness that is now being referred to as Illness Anxiety Disorder. This is a chronic disorder that is anxiety related.

Why are people hypochondriacs?

Causes of hypochondriasis. Most hypochondriac researchers have agreed that it is a problem of perception or cognition with emotional contributions. In addition, they influence genetic characteristics and the environment of the person. Therefore, it is believed that its causes are genetic, psychological and environmental.