What Is Somatic Symptom Disorder?
5. Illness Anxiety Disorder
Somatic symptom disorder is closely related to some other mental health conditions. One of these is illness anxiety disorder, which used to be known as hypochondriasis. In this condition, that patient can be convinced that they are very ill, even when the symptoms they are experiencing are mild.
For example, somebody with indigestion might be convinced that they have bowel cancer. The patient can become so concerned about their perceived illness that it begins to dominate their life. It can make it difficult for them to function normally, and it can have a severe impact on the quality of the patient’s life.
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