Course of hypochondriasis in an international primary care study

General Hospital Psychiatry
G E SimonC Fullerton

Abstract

Hypochondriasis is frequently defined as a chronic condition distinct from anxiety and depressive disorders. Consecutive primary care attenders (n=25,916) were screened using the General Health Questionnaire and a stratified random sample (n=5447) completed a baseline diagnostic assessment. All patients with significant psychiatric symptoms and a random sample of remaining patients (n=3201) were asked to complete a follow-up diagnostic assessment 12 months later. Of patients meeting an abridged definition of hypochondriasis at baseline, 18% continued to do so at follow-up and an additional 16% continued to report hypochondriacal worries. 45% of those with hypochondriasis at follow-up also met criteria for DSM-IV anxiety or depressive disorder. Follow-up anxiety or depressive disorder was significantly associated with both onset and persistence of hypochondriasis. Hypochondriasis is moderately stable over time. The clear distinction between hypochondriasis and anxiety/depressive disorders suggested by ICD-10 and DSM-IV may be difficult to accomplish in practice.

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Citations

Apr 14, 2006·Current Opinion in Psychiatry·Martin StrassnigHarold Alan Pincus
Apr 20, 2004·Journal of Psychosomatic Research·Oye Gureje
Dec 19, 2012·International Review of Psychiatry·Francis Creed, Oye Gureje
Apr 22, 2009·Journal of Psychosomatic Research·Tim C olde HartmanChris van Weel
Apr 20, 2004·Journal of Psychosomatic Research·Francis Creed, Arthur Barsky
Aug 11, 2006·Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics·Russell NoyesDouglas R Langbehn
Mar 29, 2019·Psychosomatic Medicine·Timothy M ScarellaArthur J Barsky

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