Understanding Hypochondriasis The main feature of hypochondriasis is the extreme fear of contracting a serious health problem. The person appears anxious. After a health practitioner verifies that the person does not have the perceived disease, the patient still remains skeptical. In addition, the patient accepts that the fears are unrealistic, but continues to worry. For a diagnosis to be done, the hypochondriasis must cause a severe interference with the person’s normal function or cause great distress. In spite of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) distinguishing this problem from other disorders, some experts continue to point out that hypochondriasis has features closely related to panic disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder. They further classify the condition as an anxiety disorder. Description of Hypochondriasis The patient with hypochondriasis may point to the possibility of having a single or several severe illnesses. The fear of the patient may shift from time to time upon learning newer symptoms or after gaining more information on various unfamiliar illnesses. The fear may result from minor physical abnormalities such as aching muscles, fatigue, small sores, or mild coughs. The person may also interpret normal sensations as symptoms. More often, this condition results after the death of a loved one. It has also been attributed to stress. People with hypochondriasis visit doctors on a regular basis. After a doctor rules out the possibility of their having an illness, they may turn to different health practitioners. The findings of a doctor do not soothe the anxiety. Gradually, the patient becomes dissatisfied with their health care providers. In some cases, when the doctor learns that the patient has hypochondriasis, he may ignore the patient completely. Consequently, the risk of getting a real sickness increases. Causes of Hypochondriasis There are many theories pointing to the cause of hypochondriasis. Some are farfetched while others have some gravity. There are two main theories: amplification of a person’s sensory experience and distorted interpretation of the symptoms. Amplified sensory experience – This theory suggests that individuals with hypochondriasis have a higher sensitivity to various physical sensations. They pay more attention to body sensations than most people. As a result, their attention leads to anxiety since they are constantly worried of getting sick. The amplification tendency might either be chronic or temporary. The fears are worsened by stress and events that leave the patient concerned Distorted interpretation of symptoms - In this theory, the physical sensations of the patient are similar to those of other people. The difference is that the patient tends to exaggerate minor symptoms. These patients are often pessimistic about their health and overestimate their chances of getting sick. In this case, the person with hypochondriasis believes he is sick unless proven otherwise. Unlike amplified sensory experience, patients with distorted interpretation of symptoms tend to give approximate estimations of the symptoms. Individuals with hypochondriasis are believed to have suffered from serious or frequent illnesses in the past. Symptoms of Hypochondriasis Preoccupation with fears of getting serious injury or illness Rarely dismiss thoughts of being ill even when proven wrong Talk often about their symptoms Move from one specialist to another for consultation Keep learning about the feared diseases Stay away from things that might remind them of death or illness Suffer anxiety Diagnosis of Hypochondriasis The hypochondriasis can be diagnosed when a doctor considers the preoccupation of the patient with physical symptoms or excessive concern with illnesses. A doctor will also do a thorough physical examination so as to rule out medical conditions. If there are no physical symptoms, the doctor may refer the patient to a psychiatrist or a psychologist for further assessment. Treatment of Hypochondriasis Hypochondriasis is difficult to treat because patients do not believe that they are healthy. The most effective treatments are usually behavioral and cognitive therapy. Prevention of Hypochondriasis It can be difficult to prevent hypochondriasis in the prevailing health conscious society. The best prevention method is to get counseling after the loss of a loved one, or when one starts worrying about health problems.
Posted on: Sun, 27 Oct 2013 20:37:12 +0000
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