Introduction
Hypochondriasis, originally listed as a somatoform disorder under the DSM-IV is now classified as a somatic symptom disorder under the DSM-V. According to the DSM-V, people with somatic symptom disorders must have symptoms that are chronic somatic symptoms in which they are concerned about. It can no longer be defined as a somatoform disorder because no actual physical symptoms occur (Mayo Clinic 2015). Hypochondriasis can be defined as a person having a fear of a bodily function being more life- threatening than it actually is. As stated in the DSM-IV, about 1% to 5% of people in the United States are diagnosed with hypochondriasis. Hypochondriasis is usually diagnosed when a patient visits their doctor multiple times of …show more content…
This process is when the patient stops taking the medication, the effect of the medication is no longer effective on the body and the patient’s symptoms may come back. Therefore, medication does not have the best long-term effects. In one study performed by Walker, Vincent, Furer, Cox, and Kjernisted in 2000, their study aimed to acknowledge the most preferable therapy type by hypochondriacs when comparing CBT and drug therapy. To conduct their study, the researchers used twenty-three volunteers to take a survey that outlined a description of both types of therapies as well as their advantages and disadvantages. In the results of the surveys, 74% of the participants chose CBT to have a better long term effect and a more preferable type of therapy while drug therapy was only chosen by 4% of the participants and 22% equally chose both types of therapies. Hence, drug therapy is probably for more of a short term than long term use, where as CBT is more probable for long term uses.
Another drawback of drug therapy is the inconvenience at some moments. For CBT, the patient can use these techniques to calm their anxieties whenever their issues, as in their health anxiety, arises. However, medication is usually prescribed to a patient to be taken at a certain time. If a patient’s issue arises but is not their set time to take their medication, their anxiety may worsen because they do not have an outlet to ease their
Hypochondriasis, originally listed as a somatoform disorder under the DSM-IV is now classified as a somatic symptom disorder under the DSM-V. According to the DSM-V, people with somatic symptom disorders must have symptoms that are chronic somatic symptoms in which they are concerned about. It can no longer be defined as a somatoform disorder because no actual physical symptoms occur (Mayo Clinic 2015). Hypochondriasis can be defined as a person having a fear of a bodily function being more life- threatening than it actually is. As stated in the DSM-IV, about 1% to 5% of people in the United States are diagnosed with hypochondriasis. Hypochondriasis is usually diagnosed when a patient visits their doctor multiple times of …show more content…
This process is when the patient stops taking the medication, the effect of the medication is no longer effective on the body and the patient’s symptoms may come back. Therefore, medication does not have the best long-term effects. In one study performed by Walker, Vincent, Furer, Cox, and Kjernisted in 2000, their study aimed to acknowledge the most preferable therapy type by hypochondriacs when comparing CBT and drug therapy. To conduct their study, the researchers used twenty-three volunteers to take a survey that outlined a description of both types of therapies as well as their advantages and disadvantages. In the results of the surveys, 74% of the participants chose CBT to have a better long term effect and a more preferable type of therapy while drug therapy was only chosen by 4% of the participants and 22% equally chose both types of therapies. Hence, drug therapy is probably for more of a short term than long term use, where as CBT is more probable for long term uses.
Another drawback of drug therapy is the inconvenience at some moments. For CBT, the patient can use these techniques to calm their anxieties whenever their issues, as in their health anxiety, arises. However, medication is usually prescribed to a patient to be taken at a certain time. If a patient’s issue arises but is not their set time to take their medication, their anxiety may worsen because they do not have an outlet to ease their