Illness anxiety disorder

Illness anxiety disorder is a mental health condition where a person is excessively worried about having or developing a serious illness despite having little or no physical symptoms. It primarily affects the brain and nervous system, influencing how a person perceives and interprets bodily sensations. People with this disorder often misinterpret normal bodily functions or minor symptoms as signs of severe disease, leading to persistent health anxiety. This condition can cause significant distress and interfere with daily life, as the individual frequently seeks medical reassurance or avoids medical care due to fear. The disorder mainly impacts emotional well-being and can lead to chronic stress and impaired social functioning.

Illness anxiety disorder is characterized by a preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious illness, despite medical evaluation and reassurance indicating otherwise. The core pathology involves heightened health anxiety and misinterpretation of bodily sensations, often driven by cognitive distortions and excessive attention to normal physical changes. It is classified under somatic symptom and related disorders in the DSM-5. The usual mechanism includes dysfunctional beliefs about health and illness, leading to persistent worry and behaviors such as repeated health checks or avoidance of medical care. This disorder is clinically significant because it causes substantial distress and functional impairment without prominent somatic symptoms. It differs from somatic symptom disorder by the absence of significant somatic complaints. The condition often requires differentiation from anxiety disorders and factitious disorders.