Hypochondriac (2022)
Hypochondriasis or hypochondria is a condition in which a person is excessively and unduly worried about having a serious illness. Hypochondria is an old concept whose meaning has repeatedly changed over its lifespan.[1] It has been claimed that this debilitating condition results from an inaccurate perception of the condition of body or mind despite the absence of an actual medical diagnosis.[2] An individual with hypochondriasis is known as a hypochondriac. Hypochondriacs become unduly alarmed about any physical or psychological symptoms they detect, no matter how minor the symptom may be, and are convinced that they have, or are about to be diagnosed with, a serious illness.[3]
Hypochondriac (2022)
Often, hypochondria persists even after a physician has evaluated a person and reassured them that their concerns about symptoms do not have an underlying medical basis or, if there is a medical illness, their concerns are far in excess of what is appropriate for the level of disease. It is also referred to hypochondriaism which is the act of being in a hypochondriatic state, acute hypochondriaism.[4] Many hypochondriacs focus on a particular symptom as the catalyst of their worrying, such as gastro-intestinal problems, palpitations, or muscle fatigue. To qualify for the diagnosis of hypochondria the symptoms must have been experienced for at least six months.[5]
Anecdotal evidence suggests that some individuals become hypochondriac after experiencing major medical diagnosis[25] or death of a family member or friend. Similarly, when approaching the age of a parent's premature death from disease, many otherwise healthy, happy individuals fall prey to hypochondria. These individuals believe they have the same disease that caused their parent's death, sometimes causing panic attacks with corresponding symptoms.[14]
(Although, it can be fun to give gag gifts to hypochondriacs, please try to be sensitive when buying gifts for anxious people. Just remember, we they are very serious when it comes to our their health.)
Diagnosis Index entries containing back-references to F45.21: Disorder (of) - see also Disease anxiety F41.9ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code F41.9Anxiety disorder, unspecified2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Billable/Specific Code Applicable ToAnxiety NOS
illness F45.21 hypochondriacal F45.20ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code F45.20Hypochondriacal disorder, unspecified2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Billable/Specific Code neurosis F45.21 identity illness anxiety F45.21 Hypochondria, hypochondriac, hypochondriasis (reaction) F45.21 Neurosis, neurotic F48.9ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code F48.9Nonpsychotic mental disorder, unspecified2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Billable/Specific Code Applicable ToNeurosis NOS
hypochondriacal F45.21 Nosomania F45.21 Psychoneurosis, psychoneurotic - see also Neurosis hypochondriacal F45.21 041b061a72