Hypochondriasis Disorder By: Melanie M. and Sarah T.

Definition of Hypochondriasis (a Somatoform Disorder) Somatoform Disorder: a physical symptom that cannot be explained by any known physical disease.Somatoform Disorder: a physical symptom that cannot be explained by any known physical disease. Hypochondriasis Disorder : When a person who suffers from misinterpretations of basic bodily functions and infers them to be seriously harmful to their health.Hypochondriasis Disorder : When a person who suffers from misinterpretations of basic bodily functions and infers them to be seriously harmful to their health.

Video clip of a Hypochondriac NiEIhttp://youtube.com/watch?v=JXlXN84 NiEIhttp://youtube.com/watch?v=JXlXN84 NiEIhttp://youtube.com/watch?v=JXlXN84 NiEI

Signs and Symptoms There are NO real symptoms of suffering from Hypochondriasis, other than having the irrational fear that every normal body function is a sign of a disease.There are NO real symptoms of suffering from Hypochondriasis, other than having the irrational fear that every normal body function is a sign of a disease. Going to see multiple physicians hoping that one will say, that you have the medical condition you believe you haveGoing to see multiple physicians hoping that one will say, that you have the medical condition you believe you have Having many medical books and pamphlets describing various illnesses that you check dailyHaving many medical books and pamphlets describing various illnesses that you check daily Being unable to perform normal daily activities for fear that you may contract a disease from anythingBeing unable to perform normal daily activities for fear that you may contract a disease from anything

What Causes It UNKNOWN, but there are theories that include:UNKNOWN, but there are theories that include: The belief that the illness is deserved because of some past or imagined wrongdoingThe belief that the illness is deserved because of some past or imagined wrongdoing A person will reap the benefits for being sick by being lavished with attention or sympathy for their illnessA person will reap the benefits for being sick by being lavished with attention or sympathy for their illness May be related to another psychiatric disorder such as anxiety or OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)May be related to another psychiatric disorder such as anxiety or OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)

Treatment Examples Drug Therapy that is associated with maintaining mental health conditionsDrug Therapy that is associated with maintaining mental health conditions Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps you identify thoughts that contribute to fears about illness and to correct the misinterpretation of body sensations. Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps you identify thoughts that contribute to fears about illness and to correct the misinterpretation of body sensations.

How do you know if you suffer from hypochondria? Example #1 If you turn on the news and catch the tail end of a medical report about ovarian cancer and hear that one of the symptoms is abdominal discomfort, do you rush to the computer to do a search on ovarian cancer because you were feeling slightly gassy that day?If you turn on the news and catch the tail end of a medical report about ovarian cancer and hear that one of the symptoms is abdominal discomfort, do you rush to the computer to do a search on ovarian cancer because you were feeling slightly gassy that day?ovarian cancerovarian cancer

Example #2 You are sitting at your desk and feel a slight twinge in your back muscle. Do you instantly rush to your medical dictionary or visit WebMD.com to look up the symptom “back spasm?”You are sitting at your desk and feel a slight twinge in your back muscle. Do you instantly rush to your medical dictionary or visit WebMD.com to look up the symptom “back spasm?”muscle

Example #3 Is your copy of the medical dictionary well-worn, dog-eared, or full of Post-It notes?Is your copy of the medical dictionary well-worn, dog-eared, or full of Post-It notes? If any of the examples relate to you or someone you know, you or that person may have Hypochondriasis DisorderIf any of the examples relate to you or someone you know, you or that person may have Hypochondriasis Disorder

Citations Used for Somatoform Disorder definitionhttp:// for Somatoform Disorder definitionhttp:// info/docs/3700/3783.asp?index=9886 definition for hypochondriasis disorderhttp:// info/docs/3700/3783.asp?index=9886 definition for hypochondriasis disorderhttp:// info/docs/3700/3783.asp?index=9886http:// info/docs/3700/3783.asp?index= htm for what causes it & treatment exampleshttp:// htm for what causes it & treatment exampleshttp:// htmhttp:// htm for video cliphttp://youtube.com/watch?v=JXlXN84NiEI for video cliphttp://youtube.com/watch?v=JXlXN84NiEI tm for examples of hypochondriasis disorderhttp:// tm for examples of hypochondriasis disorderhttp:// tmhttp:// tm