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What is illness anxiety disorder? -

Illness anxiety disorder (IAD), also known as hypochondriasis or hypochondria, is a mental health disorder. Its main characteristic is an irrational fear of having an illness or becoming ill.

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Types of illness anxiety disorder -

People with IAD deal with their anxiety and fear of illness in two ways. The two categories are care-seeking and care-avoidant.

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Types of illness anxiety disorder: care-seeking -

Those who suffer from care-seeking IAD tend to spend a lot of time in healthcare settings. They seek medical attention, look for different specialists, get numerous medical tests done, etc.

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Types of illness anxiety disorder: care-avoidant -

Those with care-avoidant IAD tend to do the exact opposite. Their anxiety and fear manifests through avoidance of medical care. People with this type of IAD avoid going to healthcare providers at all costs, even when they might need them.

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How common is illness anxiety disorder? -

IAD is pretty rare. Many people have a healthy degree of anxiety about being or becoming ill, but are not full-blown hypochondriacs.

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How common is illness anxiety disorder? -

IAD usually manifests in adulthood, but can affect all ages. The condition impacts both men and women.

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Symptoms -

Being constantly worried about having, or being in the imminent risk of developing, a serious illness usually translates into high levels of anxiety.

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Symptoms -

People with IAD tend to be hypervigilant about their bodies and any possible symptoms.

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Symptoms -

Hypochondriacs may perform repetitive tasks as a preventative measure, including checking blood pressure and/or heart rate multiple times a day.

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Symptoms -

People who suffer from IAD tend to be hyper aware of bodily functions and physical sensations, and look for any changes that may indicate a symptom of an illness.

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Symptoms -

People with IAD may avoid crowded places and contact with people in general, in an attempt to avoid contracting an illness.

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Symptoms -

Hypochondriacs may spend a great deal of time researching diseases and symptoms.

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What causes IAD? -

There isn’t an exact reason why some people develop illness anxiety disorder, but there are some factors that may make a person more prone to develop it.

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Risk factors -

A family history of childhood trauma, including neglect and child abuse, is a risk factor.

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Risk factors -

Physical or emotional abuse of any kind has been linked to some people with IAD.

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Risk factors -

The same goes for high levels of stress and a history of mental health issues, including anxiety disorders.

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Risk factors -

A negative experience with an illness and healthcare, which usually translates into a distrust of medical providers, has been associated with IAD.

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Risk factors -

Having experienced a close family member with IAD may increase the risk of developing the disorder.

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Risk factors -

A history of serious illness in the family (e.g. cancer) or experiencing childhood illness can also make a person more prone to develop IAD.

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Risk factors -

In addition to family history and psychological factors, other elements can also play a part in hypochondria. For example, a person might believe that a disease is more widespread than it actually is, or that the risk of catching a certain disease is higher than it actually is.

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Diagnosis -

A primary healthcare provider will do the first evaluation. If IAD is suspected, they may refer the patient to a psychologist or psychiatrist.

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The difference between illness anxiety disorder and somatic symptom disorder -

Both include an unhealthy obsession with one’s health, but unlike IAD, people with somatic symptom disorder have real physical symptoms (though often medical tests are unable to detect any cause).

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The difference between illness anxiety disorder and nosophobia -

People with nosophobia are also afraid of getting sick, but those who struggle with this type of phobia often obsess with a specific disease. In fact, they may believe they already have symptoms of a life-threatening condition like cancer or AIDS.

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Related conditions -

It’s estimated that nearly 65% of people with IAD struggle with at least one other mental disorder.

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Related conditions -

Related conditions may include obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and panic disorder.

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Treatment -

Psychotherapy is usually recommended for those who suffer from IAD. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and other approaches can be effective in managing the disorder.

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Treatment -

A combination of therapy and medication is sometimes needed. Depending on the person, antidepressants or other psychotropics may be prescribed to help manage symptoms.

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Treatment -

Mindfulness-based stress reduction through meditation, breathing techniques, journaling, and more may also be beneficial.

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Outlook -

With the right treatment, living with illness anxiety disorder can be manageable. Given that IAD is usually a chronic condition, it’s important to make the necessary lifestyle adjustments to accommodate it (i.e. stress-reducing activities, etc.).

Sources: (Health.com) (Cleveland Clinic)

See also: 30 of the best ways to improve your mental health

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