Preoccupation with fears of having a serious disease is called?

RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2016

Mental Health Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2016

Explanation

Hypochondriasis is defined by a persistent preoccupation and strong fear or belief of having a serious, undiagnosed disease.
This fear persists despite appropriate medical evaluation, negative test results, and reassurance from healthcare providers.
The individual misinterprets normal bodily sensations or minor symptoms as signs of a severe illness.
In the DSM-5, this condition is now primarily referred to as Illness Anxiety Disorder, especially when somatic symptoms are minimal.

Option A: Somatization (now part of Somatic Symptom Disorder) involves the presence of multiple, distressing physical symptoms affecting several body systems. The focus is on the symptoms themselves, rather than a specific fear of having a particular disease.
Option B: Conversion Disorder involves one or more symptoms of altered voluntary motor or sensory function (e.g., paralysis, blindness, non-epileptic seizures) that are not explained by a neurological or medical condition.
Option D: Dissociation is a disruption in the usually integrated functions of consciousness, memory, identity, or perception. It's a mental process of disconnecting from one's thoughts, feelings, or sense of self, not a preoccupation with physical illness.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing The question tests knowledge of somatoform disorders, specifically the definition of hypochondriasis helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nurses must build a trusting relationship, acknowledge the patient's distress and anxiety without reinforcing the unfounded illness beliefs.
Interventions should focus on stress reduction and coping mechanisms, gently shifting focus away from somatic complaints.
It is crucial to perform a thorough assessment to rule out any actual medical conditions before concluding a diagnosis of a somatoform disorder.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core concept in the question stem: 'preoccupation with fears of having a serious disease'.
Analyze the keywords: 'preoccupation' (persistent thought), 'fears' (anxiety), and 'serious disease' (illness belief).
Evaluate each option against this core concept.
Recall the definition of Hypochondriasis as the classic term for illness-related fear.
Differentiate it from Somatization (focus on symptoms), Conversion (neurological loss of function), and Dissociation (disconnection from self/reality).
Select the option that directly matches the definition of being preoccupied with the fear of having an illness.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: The question tests knowledge of somatoform disorders, specifically the definition of hypochondriasis.
Stem keywords: preoccupation, fears, serious disease
Lead-in keywords: is called
Negative lead-in flag: false

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E6 Medicine Davidson Principles Practice 24e p. 1222-1224

E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) pp. 1448-1450, 1441-1443