Illness Anxiety Disorder Manifesting as Huntington's Disease: A Rare Case Report

Illness anxiety disorder (IAD) is a psychological disorder characterized by an exaggerated preoccupation with the possibility of having a serious illness even in the absence of somatic symptoms. A 38-year-old woman presented to the clinic complaining of rhythmic and involuntary movements of her head and body. She had a history of chronic stress and recurrent significant loss, and she grew up in a highly emotional family. She remained preoccupied with the possibility of Huntington's disease, despite unremarkable neurological and laboratory findings. In the past, there have been some reports about Illness anxiety disorder (IAD) presenting with neurodegenerative diseases, particularly multiple sclerosis. However, this case is unique because the patient has shown severe anxiety due to the belief that they have Huntington's disease, which is a rare occurrence.