Experts Say Hypochondria Is Real
B O S T O N, Nov. 9 -- The recent anthrax scares have made nearly everyone a little more worried about those sniffles and coughs, leading many people to joke about hypochondria. But experts say hypochondriasis is a real disorder that puts a strain on the medical system and is no laughing matter.
A person who suffers from hypochondriasis believes that his or her physical symptoms, either real or imagined, are signs of a much more serious illness, despite medical reassurance that they are not. According to experts, the prevalence of hypochondria ranges from 4 percent to 7 percent in the general population, affecting both men and women equally.
"Most people who notice a mole on their shoulder that is changing color [and] that they think may be skin cancer will go to the doctor who tells them that it is nothing. And they say, 'Great, I'm outta here,' says Dr. Arthur Barsky, director of psychiatric research at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, who reviews hypochondriasis in this week's issue of The New England Journal of Medicine. "That sort of information and reassurance is not helpful to a person suffering from hypochondriasis."
Instead, a hypochondriac will become angry with the physician for failing to realize that the person does indeed have a problem, says Barsky.
Some research suggests hypochondriacs may be more finely tuned to their bodies and have a tendency to misinterpret symptoms that others would overlook.
"Hypochondriacs tend to [believe they] suffer from diseases that aren't always clear and where a diagnosis is often difficult," says Dr. Brian Fallon, director of the Somatic Disorders Research Program at the New York State Psychiatric Institute.
Poorly Understood
Although hypochondriasis is a very common problem in clinical practice, Barsky notes there isn't much known about how to deal with it.
While hypochondriasis is regarded as a psychiatric disorder, psychiatrists rarely see patients who suffer from it. From the perspective of the patients, their problems are a medical concern and they are generally very reluctant to see a mental health professional if their physician suggests it.
Related Stories
ABC News Live