Illness Anxiety Disorder Definition/description • • • Also known as hypochondriasis Preoccupation with fear of having or having a serious disease to the point of causing significant impairment Convictions persist despite negative investigations an medical reassurance, however is able to acknowledge the possibility that feared disease is not present, unlike delusion, which is fixed and firm Diagnosis DSM V A. Preoccupation with having or acquiring serious illness B. Somatic symptoms are not present or if present are only mild in intensity. - If another medication condition is present or there is a high risk of developing a medical condition e.g. a strong family history, the preoccupation is clearly excessive or disproportionate. C. There is a high level of anxiety about health and the individual is easily alarmed about personal health status D. The individual performs excessive health-related behaviours - E.g. frequent checks E. Present for at least 6 months, but the specific illness that is feared may change overtime F. The illness-related preoccupation is not better explained by another mental disorder • Specify if: - Care seeking type - Care avoidant type