Hypochondriasis

Hypochondriasis
A disorder characterized by a preoccupation with body functions and the interpretation of normal body sensations (such as sweating) or minor abnormalities (such as minor aches and pains) as portending problems of major medical moment. Reassurance by physicians and others only serves to increase the hypochondriac's persistent anxiety about their health. The hypochondrium is the anatomic area of the upper abdomen just below (Greek "hypo" meaning "below") the cartilage (Greek "chondros" meaning "cartilage") of the ribs. Hypochondriasis was thought by the ancients to be due to disturbed function of the spleen and other organs in the upper abdomen.
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A morbid concern about one's own health and exaggerated attention to any unusual bodily or mental sensations; a delusion that one is suffering from some disease for which no physical basis is evident. SYN: hypochondria, hypochondriacal neurosis. [fr. hypochondrium, regarded as the site of hypochondria, + G. -iasis, condition]

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hy·po·chon·dri·a·sis -'drī-ə-səs n, pl -a·ses -.sēz morbid concern about one's health esp. when accompanied by delusions of physical disease

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hy·po·chon·dri·a·sis (hi″po-kon-driґə-sis) [so called because it was supposed by the ancients to be due to disturbed function of the organs of the upper abdomen; see also regio hypochondriaca] [DSM-IV] a somatoform disorder characterized by a preoccupation with bodily functions and the interpretation of normal sensations (such as heart beats, sweating, peristaltic action, and bowel movements) or minor abnormalities (such as a runny nose, minor aches and pains, or slightly swollen lymph nodes) as indications of serious problems needing medical attention. Negative results of diagnostic evaluations and reassurance by physicians only increase the patient's anxious concern about his health, although the concern is not of delusional intensity. Called also hypochondriacal neurosis.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • hypochondriasis — [hī΄pōkän drī′ə sis, hī΄pəkän drī′ə sis; ] also [hip΄ōkän drī′ə sis, hip΄əkän drī′ə sis, hī΄pōkəndrī′ə sis, hī΄pəkəndrī′ə sis; ] also [hip΄ōkəndrī′ə sis, hip΄əkəndrī′ə sis] n. HYPOCHONDRIA: term preferred in medicine * * * hy·po·chon·dri·a·sis… …   Universalium

  • Hypochondriasis — Hy po*chon dri*a*sis, n. [NL. So named because supposed to have its seat in the hypochondriac regions. See {Hypochondriac}, {Hypochondrium}, and cf. {Hyp}, 1st {Hypo}.] (Med.) A mental disorder in which melancholy and gloomy views torment the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • hypochondriasis — 1766, from HYPOCHONDRIA (Cf. hypochondria) + an unusual use of OSIS (Cf. osis) …   Etymology dictionary

  • hypochondriasis — [hī΄pōkän drī′ə sis, hī΄pəkän drī′ə sis; ] also [hip΄ōkän drī′ə sis, hip΄əkän drī′ə sis, hī΄pōkəndrī′ə sis, hī΄pəkəndrī′ə sis; ] also [hip΄ōkəndrī′ə sis, hip΄əkəndrī′ə sis] n. HYPOCHONDRIA: term preferred in medicine …   English World dictionary

  • Hypochondriasis — Infobox Disease Name = PAGENAME Caption = DiseasesDB = ICD10 = ICD10|F|45|2|f|40 ICD9 = ICD9|300.7 ICDO = OMIM = MedlinePlus = eMedicineSubj = eMedicineTopic = MeshID = D006998Hypochondriasis (or hypochondria, sometimes referred to as health… …   Wikipedia

  • hypochondriasis — Hypochondria Hy po*chon dri*a, n. [NL.] (Med.) An excessive concern about one s own health, particularly a morbid worry about illnesses which a person imagines are affecting him, often focusing on specific symptoms; also called {hypochondriasis} …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Hypochondriasis —    The notion of hypochondriacal melancholy goes back to the Ancients, signifying a particular form of melancholy in which the hypochondrium (area beneath the ribs) is mainly affected. Felix Platter (1536–1614), professor of medicine at Basel,… …   Historical dictionary of Psychiatry

  • hypochondriasis — noun (plural hypochondriases) Etymology: New Latin Date: 1766 morbid concern about one s health especially when accompanied by delusions of physical disease …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • hypochondriasis — noun A mental disorder characterized by excessive fear of or preoccupation with a serious illness, despite medical testing and reassurance to the contrary. See Also: hypochondria, hypochondriac …   Wiktionary

  • hypochondriasis — n. obsessive preoccupation with the possibility of becoming ill or with imagined symptoms of an illness (Psychiatry) …   English contemporary dictionary

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