Hypochondriasis Workup

  • Author: Glen L Xiong, MD; Chief Editor: David Bienenfeld, MD   more...
 
Updated: Aug 3, 2011
 

Laboratory Studies

In patients with hypochondriasis, the abnormal laboratory findings characteristic of the suggested physical disorder are absent.

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Other Tests

Screening tools

  • The Health Anxiety Inventory (HAI) (long version; short version of 14 items, 5 min) reliably distinguishes patients with hypochondriasis from patients with anxiety disorders or healthy controls.[26]
  • The Illness Attitude Scale (29 items, 15 min, English only) is used for detection and to assess severity.[34]
  • The Whitely Index of Hypochondriasis (14 items, 5 min, >14 languages) is used for detection, for rating severity, and for measuring change per interventions.[35]
  • The Somatoform Disorders Symptom Checklist (65 yes-or-no items, 20 min, >5 languages) screens for hypochondriasis, somatization disorder, BDD, and others.[36]
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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Glen L Xiong, MD  Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis School of Medicine; Attending Psychiatrist, Sacramento Mental Health Treatment Center; Attending Physician, Sacramento County Primary Care Clinic

Glen L Xiong, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Psychiatric Association, and Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society

Disclosure: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Royalty Book Editor; PGxHealth Consulting fee Consulting; National Alliance for Research in Schizophrenia and Depression Grant/research funds Independent contractor

Coauthor(s)

James A Bourgeois, OD, MD, MPA  Professor, Consultation-Liaison Service, Department Education Coordinator, Vice Chair of Education, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, St Joseph's Healthcare, Centre for Mountain Health Services, McMaster University School of Medicine, Canada

James A Bourgeois, OD, MD, MPA is a member of the following medical societies: Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine, American Neuropsychiatric Association, American Psychiatric Association, and Association for Academic Psychiatry

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Peter M Yellowlees, MD, MBBS  Professor of Psychiatry, Director of Health Informatics Program, University of California, Davis, School of Medicine

Disclosure: Medscape Consulting fee Independent contractor

Donald M Hilty, MD  Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, Vice-Chair of Faculty Development, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis School of Medicine

Donald M Hilty, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine, American Association for Technology in Psychiatry, American Psychiatric Association, and Association for Academic Psychiatry

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Sarah C Aronson, MD  Associate Professor, Departments of Psychiatry and Medicine, Case Western Reserve School of Medicine/University Hospitals of Cleveland

Sarah C Aronson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Family Physicians, American Medical Association, and American Psychiatric Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Harold H Harsch, MD  Program Director of Geropsychiatry, Department of Geriatrics/Gerontology, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Department of Medicine, Froedtert Hospital, Medical College of Wisconsin

Harold H Harsch, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Psychiatric Association

Disclosure: lilly Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Forest Labs None None; Pfizer Grant/research funds Speaking and teaching; Northstar None None; Novartis Grant/research funds research; Pfizer Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Sunovion Speaking and teaching; Otsuke Grant/research funds reseach; GlaxoSmithKline Grant/research funds research; Merck Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Chief Editor

David Bienenfeld, MD  Professor of Psychiatry, Vice-Chair and Director of Residency Training, Department of Psychiatry, Wright State University, Boonshoft School of Medicine

David Bienenfeld, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, and Association for Academic Psychiatry

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgments

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous authors Shayna L Marks, BA, MA; Dandan Liu, BA; and Celia Chang, MD to the development and writing of this article.

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Pathological cycle of bodily concern and anxiety in hypochondriasis.
Mood, cultural, developmental, and environmental factors that influence hypochondriasis.
Factors that maintain anxiety in patients with hypochondriasis.
A cognitive model of the development of anxiety with hypochondriasis.
 
 
 
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