Anxiety Disorders (General)

Hypochondria (Illness Anxiety Disorder) Symptoms & Treatment

Illness anxiety disorder (IAD), also known as hypochondria, is a chronic mental health condition marked by excessive worry about having or developing a serious illness despite little or no physical symptoms . This disorder often begins in early adulthood and affects men and women equally . Without treatment, IAD tends to persist and can significantly disrupt daily life, but effective therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help reduce symptoms and improve functioning .