AP PSYCHOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Illness anxiety disorder is a chronic mental illness previously known as hypochondria. People with this disorder have a persistent fear that they have a serious or life-threatening illness despite few or no symptoms.

Detailed explanation-2: -Hypochondriasis may occur in an individual who had a childhood illness or had a sibling with a childhood illness. May be related to another psychiatric disorder, such as anxiety or obsessive compulsive disorder. Hypochondriasis may develop from, or be a sign of, one of these other disorders.

Detailed explanation-3: -Hypochondriac Symptoms Being preoccupied with having a serious illness because of body symptoms that last for at least six months. Having a history of going to multiple doctors (also called “shopping around” for a doctor) to find one who will diagnosis the serious illness.

Detailed explanation-4: -Illness anxiety disorder is preoccupation with and fear of having or acquiring a serious disorder. Diagnosis is confirmed when fears and symptoms (if any) persist for ≥ 6 months despite reassurance after a thorough medical evaluation.

Detailed explanation-5: -Someone with hypochondria might have a stomach ache, for example, and rather than understand it as a reaction to something they ate or a bug, fear that they have stomach cancer or appendicitis. They tend to fear severe illnesses like cancer or HIV, rather than more common health ailments like strep throat or a cold.