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Jun 20, 2006
Hypochondria: Causes and Risk Factors
by SirGan
 Hypochondria is one specific mental disorder in which the person has the belief that he or she is suffering from a serious illness. The fact is that these - hypochondriacs often require constant reassurance, sometimes from multiple doctors, family and friends which could represent a big problem. Big problem is also the fact that this fear of disease or preoccupation with symptoms, besides the fact that it is unpleasant- it interferes with the patient's daily life in a negative way.The most common fears are related to some illnesses with no cure or very low rate of cure. ALS, brain tumors, melanoma, and AIDS are common concerns of people with health anxiety.
Hypochondria is often associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and anxiety, and can also be brought on by stress. The good news is that with treatment, many hypochondriacs recover from the disorder.
History of the termNot too many people know that the word hypochondria is derived from the ancient Greek terms:
It refers to a set of symptoms which were thought to have been caused by a disorder of the anatomical organs beneath the cartilages of the ribs. This included:
Incidence of the conditionBecause patients with hypochondria usually see their primary care physicians rather than go to mental health clinics or join psychiatric research programs, it is difficult to determine how many people actually suffer from this disorder. Estimates range from 0.8% to 8.5% of the general US population. 2 It seems to occur equally in men and women. Children sometimes pretend they are ill in order to avoid going to school but it must be understood that this is not hypochondria. Real hypochondria can be a life-long problem unless treated. Most people with the disorder refuse referral to a mental health professional.
Effects of hypochondria on general healthIt is proven that hypochondria can cause:
Symptoms of hypochondriaSymptoms of hypochondria are constant anxiety over some minor symptoms that are considered to be normal. The person who suffer from this disorder believes that these symptoms are a serious life threatening illness even though there is nothing physically wrong with them. This disorder is often characterized by:
Most common symptoms that hypochondriacs mostly complain on:
Possible causes of hypochondriaAlthough, there seem to be many factors that might play a role- the fact is that no one knows exactly why someone develops hypochondria.
Researches have came to the conclusion that hypochondria usually begins in early adulthood. What could be the possible trigger? Well, symptoms may develop following:
Who is in risk for developing this disorder?While there are many possible triggers for hypochondria, there are still some special personality traits and basic assumptions about health and illness can make one more vulnerable.
There is no doubt that some people are more likely to develop hypochondria. These could be:
Researches have came to the conclusion that every person who thinks it has a specific inherited weakness, might also be quick to think the worst of any sensation involving that area.
Some experts also claim that people with hypochondria may have a lower threshold for pain tolerance and therefore notice internal sensations that other people may not even feel.
Diagnosis of hypochondriaIt is very easy to diagnose hypochondria! A simple physical examination should be performed to rule out an underlying organic disease. This should be followed with a psychological evaluation to rule out other related disorders. If these tests show that there is no underlying disease- the conclusion is simple! The first step is to make sure there is no physical basis for symptoms, such as illness, injury, medication use, or substance abuse. The patient should also be examined for a mood disorder, such as depression.
Factors which are contributing to hypochondriaAlthough not too many people think about this-the fact is that media and the Internet often contribute to hypochondria. They show serious illnesses such as cancer and multiple sclerosis as being random, obscure and somewhat inevitable. This only allows the hypochondriac to reinforce the idea that they actually have that illness.
This condition may occur more often in people who:
Treatment of hypochondriaAntidepressantsAntidepressants and other medications are sometimes used to treat beliefs and attitudes characteristic to hypochondriacs. Problem is that there is not a lot of evidence to support this practice because not all hypochondriacs suffer from depression.
Most studies of psychosocial approaches to treating hypochondria are limited by few subjects, lack of control groups, and the absence of long-term follow-up.
Cognitive-behavioral treatmentThere is no doubt- the fact is that there were two large, rigorous, randomized controlled studies of cognitive behavior therapy that found it to be effective in treating hypochondria.
What is this treatment about? In this form of therapy, patients are assisted in restructuring their beliefs and expectations about health and illness, correcting their misunderstandings about proper medical care, learning to distract themselves from thinking about their symptoms, and changing their behaviors concerning their symptoms and perceived illness.
How it is being done? Well, all the patients enrolled in the study were randomly assigned to six sessions of cognitive-behavioral therapy and a consultation letter to the patient's primary care physician. Each session was devoted to one of five factors that cause patients to magnify physical symptoms and think they are a sign of serious illness:
The patient is not healed when he realizes that he has health anxiety- but it is an important first step.
There is no doubt- If someone suffers from hypochondria, hypnosis can effectively help him or her to regain control over thoughts and keep physical symptoms in perspective. Throughout history, millions of people have benefited from its power to help them make positive changes in their lives. Overcoming hypochondria with hypnosis will free a person from the enormous burden of worry and stress associated with symptoms by helping a person to realize that not every ache or pain is a sign of some impending demise.
Negative concernsUnfortunately, hypnosis has long been portrayed in a negative light by television, films, and other media. There is no doubt- most people have also been led to believe that, while under hypnosis, the subject is unconscious and unaware of their surroundings. These and other misconceptions could not be further from the truth- hypnosis is simply a state of deep relaxation.
Some things that you can accomplish with the help of hypnosis are:
Are there any harmful effects? There is not one case on record of anyone being harmed because of, or through, hypnosis. Most people experience a very pleasant energy increase after the session.
Possible complicationsThere are some complications which could be related to hypochondria. They are:
Tips for hypochondriacsSeveral researches done in the past have proven that sufferers of hypochondria may benefit from one or more of the following exercises:
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