Formed by the prefix “hypo” (below) and “chondros” (cartilage), the term “hypochondria” formerly referred to the lateral parts of the abdomen. They were suspected of harboring sadness and morbid concerns. Today, it is defined by ” the fear or the persistent conviction of having a serious illness, a fear that persists despite the negativity of the examinations and the reassuring words of the doctors »¹.

There is a neurotic clinical form of hypochondria, hypochondria minor, characterized by the absence of delirium but by an obsessive preoccupation centered on the idea of ​​having a serious illness.

Typically, the hypochondriac has one or more of the following characteristics:

• He misinterprets one or more physical signs or symptoms.
• He is not convinced by the results of the examinations and the words of the doctors.
• He spends his time exploring his body, analyzing the evolution of its physiological variations (pulse, transit, muscle capacity, etc.).
• He is embarrassed or feels pain in a particular area of ​​the body.
• He explores websites and medical dictionaries where he draws elements to characterize his pathology and his illness.
• He knows better than anyone what is going on in his body.
• The disease becomes obsessive, leading to disruption of social, family and professional life.
• He readily enters into conflict with those who do not adhere to his theories.
• He readily experiences absenteeism or even invalidity.

A cognitive-behavioral therapy is often essential to regain a normal life, but the will to heal above all conditions the success of such an enterprise. 

According to the DSM-V, the hypochondriac subject meets the following criteria:

A. Concern centered on the fear or idea of ​​having a serious illness, based on the subject’s misinterpretation of physical symptoms.

B. The concern persists despite an appropriate and reassuring medical assessment.

C. The belief set out in Criterion A does not have a delusional intensity (as in a delusional disorder, somatic type) and is not limited to a concern focused on appearance (as in the disorder: fear of bodily dysmorphia ).

D. The concern is the cause of clinically significant suffering or impairment of social, occupational, or other important functioning.

E. The duration of the disturbance is at least 6 months.

F. The concern is not better explained by a anxiety generalized, a Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, panic disorder, major depressive episode, separation anxiety or other somatoform disorder³.

Hypochondria can occur at any age, but it seems to increase with age. Thus, often mixed with depression, it would be one of the most frequent symptoms of elderly subject. The fear of death might amplify the phenomenon et increase complaints. 

« He walks, sleeps, eats and drinks like the others, but that does not prevent him from being very ill. » Molière, Imaginary sick.