Hypochondriasis: difficulties in diagnosis and management.
The hypochondriacal patient presents numerous frustrations for the physician. The typical hypochondriac is a middle-aged person dominated by a preoccupation with bodily symptoms. Bereavement, serious life failures, and severe blows to self-esteem put patients at high risk for somatization. Hypochondrisis has been cited as a symptom of masked depression, early paranoid schizophrenia, and dementia and/or delirium. A careful diagnostic work-up with attention to any correctable psychiatric illness sets the stage for regularly scheduled, long-term supportive therapy.
D003376:Counseling; D006801:Humans; D006998:Hypochondriasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D008487:Medical History Taking; D010808:Physical Examination; D010821:Physicians, Family; D012803:Sick Role; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications