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Hypochondriacal concerns in a community population.

K J Looper1, L J Kirmayer

  • 1Sir Mortimer B. Davis-Jewish General Hospital and Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.

Psychological Medicine
|May 16, 2001
PubMed
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.

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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.

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