BY AKASH & SWETA

Hypochondriasis

What is it?

Health phobia or anxiety where people are excessively worried about having a particular disease.

Categorized as a somatic amplification disorder – perception and cognition.

Condition is due to the result of an inaccurate perception of the condition of body or mind.

Hypochondriacs become alarmed by any major or minor symptoms and are convinced that they will be diagnosed by a serious illness.

Symptoms

Long term fear or anxiety about serious disease or health condition

Always going to see a doctor and may even frequently switch doctors

Continuously talking about your symptoms or suspected diseases with family and friends

Obsessively doing health research Checking for body problems – lumps or sores Checking vital signs – pulse or blood pressure

Cause

Many patients are seen to use the media and internet to search for their symptoms to confirm their theories.

Major disease outbreaks or predicted pandemics can also contribute to hypochondria e.g. Ebola virus

Overly protective caregivers which focus on excessive minor health concerns

If there are serious illnesses or even a death within family that can be a trigger factor.

Physical or sexual abuse Poor ability to express emotions Being aware of a multitude of pathological

conditions!!!

Real Medical Student Cases

“One of my classmates, after the massive quake in Japan, was convinced that our food and water (in Europe) would instantly be contaminated by radioactive waste and thus decided it would be a good preventative measure to overload his system with Potassium-Iodine in order to inhibit this "inevitable" radiation poisoning...well, flash forward a few days and he ended up collapsed outside of our anatomy lab and had to be hospitalized due to Iodine overdose which lead to endocrine dysfunction.”

“Take a girl home for the night.. Flu-like symptoms for the next few days.. It's the HIV”

“I convinced myself I had scurvy for a few days since I hadn't been eating fruit or vegetables for like 2 weeks. I drank a smoothie and cured myself.”

Diagnosis

A persistent belief lasting at least six months of the presence of a maximum of two serious physical diseases.

When the belief starts to interfere with the person’s daily life

Refusal to accept medical advice when there is no adequate physical cause for symptoms.

Treatment

Effective treatment involves consistent, supportive care from one doctor, often along with a mental health professional. Finding a healthcare provider who is willing to listen to your concerns, provide support, and avoid needless testing is key to recovery.

Expect your doctor to:Validate your distressBe supportiveDirect your attention away from symptoms and focus it on

functioning in daily lifeDiscourage a sense of dependency and disabilityRecommend psychiatric counseling and educational therapy

Why we chose this disorder

As medical students, we’ll be coming across many diseases which we may think we have. It is important to not jump to any conclusions

We may come across patients like this - It is estimated that between 0.8% and 8.5% of the US adult population suffers from hypochondria. 

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypochondriasis#Characteristics

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/neurological_institute/center-for-behavorial-health/disease-conditions/hic-hypochondriasis

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypochondria/basics/definition/con-20028314