Question

Evan is terrified because he is convinced that he has a terminal heart condition. he has consulted with several physicians who have found no evidence of any heart disease. evan continues to feel terrified even when the doctors find no physical problem. his diagnosis is probably ________

Answer 1

Answer:

His diagnosis is probably Illness Anxiety Disorder (formerly known as Hypochondriasis).

Explanation:

Recently, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) redefined and modified what was previously known as Hypochondriasis into Somatic Symptom Disorder and Illness Anxiety Disorder.

In this case, Evan has probably Illness Anxiety Disorder, Care-seeking type. In contrast with Somatic Symptom Disorder, this focuses on the anxiety caused by the significance or outcome of the presumed illness, not by the somatic signs or felt symptoms.

As directly lifted from DSM-5, in order to diagnose this, the following criteria should be met:

Criteria A: Preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious illness.

• Evan is convinced and even obsessed that he has an existing terminal heart condition.

Criteria B: Somatic symptoms are not present or if present, are only mild in intensity.  If another medical condition is present or there is a high risk for developing a medical condition (e.g., strong family history is present), the preoccupation is clearly excessive or disproportionate.

• He has consulted a number of physicians but did not find any signs or symptoms for heart disease, terminal at that.

Criteria C: There is a high level of anxiety about health, and the individual is easily alarmed about personal health status.

• Evan continues to feel terrified even if his physicians reassure him that everything is in good condition.

Criteria D: The individual performs excessive health-related behaviours (e.g., repeatedly checks his or her body for signs of illness) or exhibits maladaptive avoidance (e.g, avoids doctor appointments and hospitals).

• He has consulted several physicians to check up on him and reporting that everything is in tip-top shape.

Criteria E: Illness preoccupation has been present for at least 6 months, but the specific illness that is feared may change over that period of time.

• A time frame was not listed but we may assume this has been going on for months as he is experiencing anxiety over the "presumed condition."

Criteria F: The illness-related preoccupation is not better explained by another mental disorder, such as somatic symptom disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, body dysmorphic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or delusional disorder, somatic type.

• As mentioned before, doctors have not found any diseases related to the "terminal heart condition."

Additionally, specify if:

• Care-seeking type: physician visits are usually frequent.
• Care-avoidant type: does not utilize any kind of professional medical care.