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Somatic symptoms

Anxiety disorder caused by illness (hypochondria)

Persistent worry about having or developing a serious illness, with mild or no symptoms, and checking or avoiding the doctor.

Common signs

Fear of being seriously illChecking the body or searching onlineTests only reassure for a short while

Tips

For you

  1. Limit checking and searching for information
  2. Learn to tolerate uncertainty
  3. Cognitive behavioural therapy is very effective

For family and friends

  1. Avoid reassuring them over and over: it doesn't help in the long run
  2. Suggest plans that take their mind off it

When to ask for help

  1. If the worry takes up much of the day
  2. If you avoid necessary medical tests

Guidance test

Answer thinking about the last few weeks. There are 8 questions and you get your result straight away. Your answers are not saved or sent.

0 of 8
1. I worry that I have a serious illness
2. I check my body for signs
3. I look up symptoms online
4. Normal test results only reassure me for a short while
5. I ask others to reassure me
6. I avoid doctors or tests out of fear
7. News about illnesses affects me a lot
8. I have had this worry for months
Also take the full health anxiety test →

Free resources

Downloadable PDF sheetSigns, tips and resources to print or saveFull article: Health anxietyFree resource from Clínica VivaldiAll our free guidesFree resource from Clínica Vivaldi

Related disorders

Somatic symptom disorderSomatic symptomsDisorder of functional neurological symptoms (conversion)Somatic symptomsPsychological factors that influence other medical conditionsSomatic symptomsFactitious disorderSomatic symptoms

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Reviewed by María Teresa Fernández Vicente, health psychologist and neuropsychologist (registration no. CV17304), in November 2026. Educational information prepared by the Clínica Vivaldi team based on the DSM-5-TR classification. It does not replace a professional assessment and cannot be used to diagnose.