Illness Anxiety Disorder/Hypochondriasis

Abstract Illness anxiety disorder refers to an intense fear of having or acquiring a serious illness, based on the misinterpretation of bodily symptoms. It is a relatively common psychological disorder, with a 1‐ to 2‐year prevalence of 1.3% to 10% in the general population. Assessment of illness anxiety disorder can be conducted through self‐report measures, clinical interviews, and self‐monitoring of symptoms. Effective treatments for this disorder include psychoeducation, behavioral stress management, exposure and response prevention, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Pharmacological treatments, such as fluoxetine, have also demonstrated effectiveness for the treatment of illness anxiety disorder.