Hypochondriasis

Primer

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.

Obsolete DSM-IV-TR Diagnosis

This diagnosis no longer exists in the DSM-5. It has been replaced by Illness Anxiety Disorder and Somatic Symptom Disorder

Diagnostic Criteria

Since I Can't Use Hypochondriasis Anymore... Is it now Illness Anxiety Disorder or Somatic Symptom Disorder?

With the diagnostic change from the DSM-IV to the DSM-5, approximately 75% of individuals previously diagnosed with hypochondriasis are subsumed under the diagnosis of somatic symptom disorder. However, about 25% of individuals with hypochondriasis have high health anxiety in the absence of somatic symptoms. In this case, the DSM-5 diagnosis of illness anxiety disorder is used. Illness anxiety disorder can be considered as either a somatic disorder or as an anxiety disorder.
Criterion A

Preoccupation with fears of having, or the idea that one has, a serious disease based on the person's misinterpretation of bodily symptoms.

Criterion B

The preoccupation persists despite appropriate medical evaluation and reassurance.

Criterion C

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).

Criterion D

The preoccupation causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

Criterion E

The duration of the disturbance is at least 6 months.

Criterion F

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.