Illness anxiety disorder, previously called hypochondria, is a condition defined as an excessive worry about physical health, often presenting as fear of having developed a serious or life-limiting medical condition. Worries have been present for at least 6 months and impact functioning. People with illness anxiety disorder may hyper-focus on bodily sensations or features that are considered typical and safe and interpret them as indicators of disease. If the individual already has an underlying medical condition, worries about mild somatic symptoms are considered excessive. Heightened focus on the body can perpetuate symptoms by magnifying typical sensations. The fear typically persists after medical examination with normal findings. While some people with illness anxiety disorder will over-use healthcare by seeking multiple opinions or requesting testing, others will avoid medical care entirely.
