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 <u>Somatic Symptom Disorder</u> and <u>Illness Anxiety Disorder</u>.
In this case, Evan has probably Illness Anxiety Disorder, Care-seeking type. In contrast with Somatic Symptom Disorder, this <u>focuses on the anxiety caused by the significance or outcome of the presumed illness</u>, 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: <em>Preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious illness.</em>
- Evan is convinced and even obsessed that he has an existing terminal heart condition.
Criteria B: <em>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.</em>
- He has consulted a number of physicians but did not find any signs or symptoms for heart disease, terminal at that.
Criteria C: <em>There is a high level of anxiety about health, and the individual is easily alarmed about personal health status.
</em>
- Evan continues to feel terrified even if his physicians reassure him that everything is in good condition.
Criteria D: <em>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).
</em>
- He has consulted several physicians to check up on him and reporting that everything is in tip-top shape.
Criteria E: <em>Illness preoccupation has been present for at least 6 months, but the specific illness that is feared may change over that period of time.
</em>
- A time frame was not listed but we may assume this has been going on for months as he is experiencing anxiety over the <u><em>"presumed condition.</em></u><em>"</em>
Criteria F: <em>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.
</em>
- As mentioned before, doctors have not found any diseases related to the "terminal heart condition."
<h3>Additionally, specify if:</h3>
- Care-seeking type: physician visits are usually frequent.
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Care-avoidant type: does not utilize any kind of professional medical care.
