title: Anxiety, depression, and somatization in DSM-III hypochondriasis.
abstract: To assess the severity of distress and of somatization in hypochondriasis, the authors administered several validated self-rating scales of depression, anxiety, somatic symptoms, and anger/hostility to 21 psychiatric outpatients with the DSM-III diagnosis of hypochondriasis and to matched groups of other nonpsychotic psychiatric patients, family practice patients, and employees. Anxiety and somatic symptoms were highest in hypochondriacal patients; depression and anger/hostility did not differ from those of other psychiatric patients but were higher than in the other groups. The findings do not support the theory that hypochondriasis is a defense against anxiety or that it is a masked depression or depressive equivalent. The findings are consistent with the view that the interaction of severe anxiety and severe somatic symptoms is a common feature of the psychopathology of hypochondriasis.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kellner
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Abbott
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Winslow
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pathak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006998:Hypochondriasis / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011581:Psychological Tests; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000523:psychology*