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The relation between hypochondriasis and age.

A J Barsky1, C B Frank, P D Cleary

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.

The American Journal of Psychiatry
|July 1, 1991
PubMed
Summary
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Hypochondriasis, a preoccupation with bodily symptoms, appears unrelated to age in patients. Elderly individuals with hypochondriasis did not differ from younger patients in symptom severity, despite higher medical issues.

Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Geriatrics
  • Internal Medicine

Background:

  • Hypochondriasis is a somatoform disorder characterized by excessive worry about having a serious illness.
  • The relationship between hypochondriasis and age requires further investigation, especially considering potential confounding factors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between hypochondriasis and age.
  • To control for medical morbidity, social isolation, and other psychiatric disorders.

Main Methods:

  • Patients attending a general medical clinic were screened for hypochondriasis.
  • A study group (n=60) meeting DSM-III-R criteria for hypochondriasis and a comparison group (n=100) were assessed.
  • Medical records and physician questionnaires were used for data collection.

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Main Results:

  • The hypochondriacal group was not significantly older than the comparison group.
  • Elderly hypochondriacal patients (≥65 years) showed no significant differences in hypochondriacal attitudes or somatization compared to younger patients.
  • Higher disability in elderly hypochondriacal patients was attributed to medical status, not increased hypochondriasis.

Conclusions:

  • Hypochondriasis is present across all age groups and is not directly related to age.
  • Age does not appear to be a significant factor in the severity or presentation of hypochondriasis.