What Is Illness Anxiety Disorder?

Steps To Diagnosis

The first step in determining an accurate diagnosis is for individuals to visit their primary care physician, who will conduct a physical exam and other tests, as well as ask a series of questions, to get familiar with the situation at hand. They can help determine if the patient has a physical medical condition that requires treatment. In cases where they suspect IAD or another mental illness, they will often refer patients to a mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist. The mental health professional will have patients fill out an initial self-assessment or questionnaire about their psychological well-being. They will then use this information and conduct a thorough psychological evaluation. This evaluation will include discussing symptoms, if there are stressful situations in the patient’s life, family history, talking about drug or alcohol use, and any other issues affecting the patient’s wellbeing. It is important for individuals to openly express their issues to the mental health professional about what exactly they are experiencing and the severity of the situation to receive an accurate diagnosis.

Continue reading to learn about the criteria mental health professionals use when diagnosing IAD.