Symptoms used to diagnose
The rulePreoccupation with having or getting a serious illness for at least 6 months, with few or mild bodily symptoms.
Symptoms
- High anxiety about health
- Easily alarmed by body sensations
- Repeated checking of the body
- Frequent reassurance seeking or searching online
- Avoiding doctors or medical information
- Reassurance only helps briefly
How diagnosis works
- Preoccupation with having a serious illness.
- Repeated checking, reassurance-seeking or avoidance of medical settings.
A diagnosis is made by a qualified clinician after a full assessment — this summary is to help you understand it, not to self-diagnose.
Commonly used medications
Therapies & support
- CBT for health anxiety
Sources
- 01Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR)
American Psychiatric Association, 2022
- 02ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics — Chapter 6: Mental, behavioural or neurodevelopmental disorders
World Health Organization, 2022
- 03The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines
Horowitz & Taylor, Wiley-Blackwell, 2024