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Hypochondriacal concerns in a community population.
1Sir Mortimer B. Davis-Jewish General Hospital and Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
Psychological Medicine
|May 16, 2001
Summary
Hypochondriasis is rare in the community, but illness worry is common. Illness worry independently predicts increased distress, healthcare use, and disability, regardless of medical status.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Hypochondriasis is a significant clinical disorder linked to high healthcare use, disability, and co-occurring psychiatric conditions.
- Limited research exists on hypochondriasis within community populations.
- This study examines the broader concept of illness worry in a diverse urban community.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of hypochondriasis and illness worry in a community sample.
- To compare the characteristics of individuals with and without illness worry.
- To identify predictors of illness worry and its impact on health outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A survey of 576 ethnically diverse urban residents.
- Data collection included sociodemographics, medical and psychiatric status, healthcare utilization, and disability.
- Bivariate and multivariate regression analyses were employed to compare groups.
Main Results:
- Hypochondriasis prevalence was low (0.2%), with 1.3% meeting abridged criteria.
- Illness worry was present in 6% of the sample, with half having the condition they worried about.
- Illness worry groups showed higher medical illness, psychiatric symptoms, help-seeking, healthcare use, and disability compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Illness worry is common in the community, unlike diagnosed hypochondriasis.
- Illness worry independently contributes to increased distress, healthcare utilization, and disability.
- Illness worry warrants further research due to its significant impact on health and well-being.