Abstract
This chapter discusses the cognitive behavioral treatment for hypochondriasis. The main defining aspect of hypochondriasis is fear of or believing that one is suffering from a serious illness stemming from incorrect interpretation of bodily symptoms. This fear or conviction does not have a delirious characteristic nor is it restricted to a physical aspect. It is persistent, has a minimum duration of 6 months, is maintained despite physical signs and medical explanations and causes a marked uneasiness and significant impairment in different aspects of the person's life. Two requirements must be met to establish a diagnosis of hypochondriac disorder. Firstly, the persistent belief in the presence of, at least, one serious organic illness underlying symptoms despite repeated exams which have not identified them, or constant worry about a supposed physical deformity; and, secondly, the refusal to accept the doctor's explanation that rules out such an illness or abnormality.
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