What is the difference between health anxiety and somatic symptom disorder?

Health anxiety emphasizes excessive health worry with minimal physical symptoms, while somatic symptom disorder involves prominent physical symptoms causing significant distress.

Is health anxiety common?

Yes, about 1-2% of the population meets criteria for illness anxiety disorder, though health anxiety exists on a spectrum affecting many more people.

Can reassurance help with health anxiety?

Medical reassurance is temporary and may reinforce anxiety. Cognitive-behavioral therapy and acceptance-based approaches are more effective long-term treatments.

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Health Anxiety (Illness Anxiety Disorder): Recognition and Screening

Peter Kolomiets

|March 21, 2026|Updated Apr 13, 2026|6 min

Health Anxiety (Illness Anxiety Disorder): Recognition and Screening

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References

American Psychiatric Association (2013). Illness Anxiety Disorder and Somatic Symptom Disorder in the DSM-5
Longley, S. L., Watson, D., & Noyes, R. (2005). Health Anxiety: Clinical and Research Perspectives
Clark, D. M., Salkovskis, P. M., Hackmann, A., et al. (1998). Cognitive-behavioral treatment of hypochondriasis: a randomized controlled trial

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