Hypochondria (hypochondriasis) is a somatoform disorder in which a person fears that real or imagined physical or mental symptoms indicate the presence of a serious underlying illness. These anxieties usually persist despite medical evidence to the contrary.

Patients with hypochondria often become obsessed with worry over bodily functions, minor physical abnormalities or vague physical sensations. In some cases, symptoms associated with hypochondria may indicate the presence of a genuine illness. However, a patient with hypochondria has fears about the illness that are out of proportion with the actual health threat present.

Hypochondria is a fairly common disorder that often first appears during a patient’s 20s or 30s. In most cases, symptoms associated with hypochondria wax and wane over a patient’s lifetime. This disorder can have an extremely disruptive effect on a patient’s work and social life.

A physician will not diagnose hypochondria until all other potential causes of a patient’s symptoms have been ruled out. The physician will perform a complete medical examination and compile a thorough medical history in addition to asking the patient to describe the nature, intensity, frequency and duration of symptoms.

A patient may be referred to a mental health professional if it is believed that another underlying mental health disorder is responsible for their symptoms. Treatment focuses on informing patients that no underlying disease is present while helping them to understand that their fears of disease are groundless. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help patients to reduce anxiety levels, which can lead to a corresponding reduction of symptoms.