Causes and risk factors:
The exact cause of hypochondriasis is not clear. The temperament and constitutional make up of mind, certain experience in life e.g.: loss of near and dear ones due to some illness, someone ill or suffering from serious symptoms, experienced by self in the surroundings who are not responding to treatment or inherited traits are the contributing factors.
Clinical presentations:
A hypochondriac patient has continuous fear of suffering from a serious illness. Minor ailments can lead to serious health hazards are the thoughts on which one is continuously brooding. Over anxiety over trivial sufferings .They have a obsessions that their suffering are not curable or treatable., thus seeking medical help. Convincing such patients is a difficult. They do not trust even the doctors and hence frequent change of doctors and frequent need of opinion is needed. Some hypochondriacs suffer from anxiety, palpitation on visiting a doctor or while undergoing examination while some people may undergo various investigations even if they are not suggested by the doctor. With a fear that their thought won’t be taken up seriously, many hypochondriacs won’t disclose their thoughts. Often leading to chronic depression disorders and other mental disorders.
Diagnosis and investigations:
On the basis of the symptoms narrated by the patient and a detail history taking is sufficient to diagnose hypochondriasis.
Treatment:
Counseling and adoption of psychotherapy like cognitive behavioral therapy is the main line of treatment. Medications like antipsychotic or anti anxiety drugs are prescribed
Other Modes of treatment
The other modes of treatment can also be effective in treating hypochondriasis. Homoeopathy is a science which deals with individualization and considers a person in a holistic way. This science can be helpful in combating the symptoms.
