Health anxiety and healthcare costs in Japanese individuals: an Internet survey.
Aim: Health anxiety, also known as hypochondriasis, is classifiable as an anxiety disorder. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between health anxiety and healthcare costs.Method: Participants - 100 Japanese individuals from the general population with chronic health problems and 100 without chronic health problems - were recruited via the Internet. They completed self-report scales measuring health anxiety, state anxiety, depression, obsessionality, and a scale specifically developed for this study that measured the use of healthcare services and the personal costs of respondents' healthcare.Results: Health anxiety was associated with more incidents of inpatient care and greater healthcare expenditure. These associations remained significant even after controlling for state anxiety, depression, obsessionality, and the presence of chronic health problems.Conclusion: We conclude that health anxiety is related to personal as well as social costs in Japan.
Centre for Forensic Mental Health, Chiba University , 1-6-1-3-1202, Utase, Mihamaku , Chiba 2608670 , Japan.
Osamu
O
Kobori
Department of Psychiatry, Chiba University , Chiba , Japan.
Mayuko
M
Okita
Department of Psychiatry, Chiba University , Chiba , Japan.
Tetsuya
T
Shiraishi
Department of Psychiatry, Chiba University , Chiba , Japan.
Tadashi
T
Hasegawa
Department of Psychiatry, Chiba University , Chiba , Japan.
Masaomi
M
Iyo
Internet-based research; health anxiety; healthcare cost; hypochondriasis; mental health and disorder