What Is Illness Anxiety Disorder?

Diagnosis Criteria

Criteria for a diagnosis of IAD from the DSM-5 highlights being excessively concerned about having or contracting a serious illness, becoming easily alarmed about personal health, and having no physical symptoms (or quite mild ones). Other criteria include exhibiting excessive behaviors related to health, such as continually researching symptoms or checking the body for signs of illness or avoiding medical appointments for fear of a serious diagnosis. If the patient in question does have a physical illness, the DSM-5 states that the thoughts about the illness and the severity can be excessive (worrying is normal with an existing illness).

Furthermore, the excessive worry and symptoms must endure at least six months, even if the illness the individual is worried about has changed during these six months, to receive an IAD diagnosis. Finally, the individual's symptoms must not be better explained by another mental illness, such as panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, or somatic symptom disorder.

Keep reading to discover the medical treatment options available for IAD.