Is Hypochondriasis Related to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Panic Disorder, or Both? An Empirical Evaluation

Deacon, Brett; Abramowitz, Jonathan S.

doi:10.1891/0889-8391.22.2.115

Cited by 157Psychosomatic Disorders and Their TreatmentsAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesObsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders

Is Hypochondriasis Related to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Panic Disorder, or Both? An Empirical Evaluation

Deacon, Brett, Abramowitz, Jonathan S.·2008·Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy

DOI 10.1891/0889-8391.22.2.115

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Abstract

Although hypochondriasis (HC) is considered a somatoform disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., text revision), some authors have pointed out that the symptoms of HC overlap with certain anxiety disorders, namely, panic disorder (PD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Few studies have empirically addressed this overlap. In the present investigation, we used discriminant function analysis to explore how patients with a principal diagnosis of HC, OCD, or PD varied with respect to cardinal symptoms of these disorders (i.e., health anxiety, obsessions and compulsions, and panic-related anxiety and avoidance) and key cognitive biases (i.e., intolerance of uncertainty, anxiety sensitivity, and body vigilance). Fifty treatment-seeking individuals with PD, 21 with OCD, and 23 with HC completed self-report measures of symptoms and cognitions during their clinic visit. Results indicated that whereas individuals with HC experience panic attacks, obsessions, and compulsions, these symptoms are markedly less pronounced than among those with PD and OCD. Conversely, overlaps were found in terms of cognitive biases, with HC patients demonstrating elevated levels of intolerance of uncertainty, body vigilance, and fear of cardiovascular symptoms. Implications for the conceptualization and treatment of HC are discussed.

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Two studies with nonclinical control samples reported significant relationships between total OCD symptoms and ASI scores in their clinical samples, but relationships between ASI and other anxiety symptoms were generally stronger than those between ASI and OCD symptoms.
“The two studies mentioned above that also contained a nonclinical control sample both reported significant relationships between total OCD symptoms and ASI scores in their clinical samples, but the relationships between ASI and other anxiety symptoms (e.g. health anxiety, panic, social phobia and worry) were generally stronger than those between ASI and OCD symptoms”
From Emotion and internal experience in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Reviewing the role of alexithymia, anxiety sensitivity and distress tolerance (2014) · cites this paper as Deacon & Abramowitz, 2008
In these studies patients with OCD did not score significantly higher than other patients with anxiety disorders on the ASI or its subscales.
“In these studies patients with OCD did not score significantly higher than other patients with anxiety disorders on the ASI or its subscales.”
From Emotion and internal experience in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Reviewing the role of alexithymia, anxiety sensitivity and distress tolerance (2014) · cites this paper as Deacon & Abramowitz, 2008
Three studies divided the clinical group into diagnostic groups and compared scores on the ASI using ANOVA.
“Three studies divided the clinical group into diagnostic groups and compared scores on the ASI using ANOVA”
From Emotion and internal experience in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Reviewing the role of alexithymia, anxiety sensitivity and distress tolerance (2014) · cites this paper as Deacon & Abramowitz, 2008
Two studies with a nonclinical control sample both reported significant relationships between total OCD symptoms and ASI scores in their clinical samples, but the relationships between ASI and other anxiety symptoms were generally stronger than those between ASI and OCD symptoms.
“The two studies mentioned above that also contained a nonclinical control sample both reported significant relationships between total OCD symptoms and ASI scores in their clinical samples, but the relationships between ASI and other anxiety symptoms (e.g. health anxiety, panic, social phobia and worry) were generally stronger than those between ASI and OCD symptoms”
From Emotion and internal experience in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Reviewing the role of alexithymia, anxiety sensitivity and distress tolerance (2014) · cites this paper as Deacon & Abramowitz, 2008
Across a range of disorders (e.g., anxiety disorders, eating disorders, depressive disorders, and hypochondriasis), IU has been observed to be higher in clinical groups than in nonclinical control groups.
“Across a range of disorders (e.g., anxiety disorders, eating disorders, depressive disorders, and hypochondriasis), IU has been observed to be higher in clinical groups than in nonclinical control groups (Deacon & Abramowitz, 2008; Dugas et al., 2001; Gentes & Ruscio, 2011; Holaway, Heimberg, & Coles, 2006; de Jong-Meyer, Beck, & Riede, 2009; Sternheim, Startup, & Schmidt, 2011; Tolin, Abramowitz,”
From Extension of the Transdiagnostic Model to Focus on Intolerance of Uncertainty: A Review of the Literature and Implications for Treatment (2014) · cites this paper as Deacon & Abramowitz, 2008

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Authors: Deacon, B., & Abramowitz, J. S.
Affiliations: University of Wyoming (US)
ORCID: Deacon, Brett
Abramowitz, Jonathan S.
Venue: Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy
Publisher: Springer Publishing Company
Published: 2008-06
Volume: 22
Issue: 2
Pages: 115-127
ISSN: 0889-8391 (ISSN-L)
1938-887X
DOI: 10.1891/0889-8391.22.2.115
OpenAlex: W2088114037
Cited by: 157
References: 6
Citations by year: 2026: 4 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 14
FWCI: 4.21
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy (publishedVersion)
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders
Keywords: health anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, somatoform disorders, anxiety disorders, symptom overlap, obsessions and compulsions, intolerance of uncertainty, anxiety sensitivity, body vigilance, cognitive biases

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Is Hypochondriasis Related to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Panic Disorder, or Both? An Empirical Evaluation

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