What medical diagnosis is often assigned to patients convinced of having a serious illness despite medical evidence to the contrary?

Hypochondriasis, now more commonly referred to in clinical settings as illness anxiety disorder, accurately describes individuals who have an intense preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious illness, despite medical evaluations and evidence that indicates otherwise. This condition is characterized by excessive worry about health, often due to misinterpretation of bodily symptoms, leading to significant distress and impairment in functioning.

In this diagnosis, the patient typically believes firmly that they are ill, which can lead to numerous medical consultations and diagnostic tests. The focus is on the anxiety and fear related to health issues rather than on the presence of actual physical symptoms. This distinguishes it from other disorders where somatic symptoms are more prominent or where there is intent to deceive medical practitioners.

Conditions like somatic symptom disorder involve the presence of physical symptoms that cause significant distress without a clear medical explanation, while conversion disorder is characterized by neurological symptoms that are inconsistent with medical findings and are thought to be psychological in nature. Factitious disorder, on the other hand, involves individuals who intentionally produce or feign symptoms for personal gain, often to assume the sick role or gain attention, rather than out of a genuine fear of illness.

These distinctions are crucial for diagnosis and treatment, making hypochondriasis the most appropriate label for