Hypochondriasis is a mental disorder characterized by preoccupation or fears of having a serious disease based on misinterpretation of bodily symptoms, in the DSM-IV-TR. Approximately 75% of individuals previously diagnosed with hypochondriasis are subsumed under the new diagnosis of somatic symptom disorder in the DSM-5. The remaining 25% of individuals with hypochondriasis have high health anxiety in the absence of somatic symptoms, and fall into the illness anxiety disorder diagnosis.
Preoccupation with fears of having, or the idea that one has, a serious disease based on the person's misinterpretation of bodily symptoms.
The preoccupation persists despite appropriate medical evaluation and reassurance.
The belief in Criterion A is not of delusional intensity (as in Delusional Disorder, Somatic Type) and is not restricted to a circumscribed concern about appearance (as in Body Dysmorphic Disorder).
The preoccupation causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
The duration of the disturbance is at least 6
months.
The preoccupation is not better accounted for by generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive Disorder, panic disorder, a major depressive episode, separation anxiety disorder, or another somatoform disorder.