My sister is a hypochondriac. Is there a
treatment for this condition?
Hypochondriasis is a very common disorder;
just go on to any social media like Facebook and all you will ever read is about
the multiple illnesses people have (real and imagined). Every single day, these
individuals have a different medical disorder or have a cockamamie story about
a fictitious illness in someone in their family. Hypochondriasis is a very
complex disorder and one of the most difficult to treat. The disorder is more
common in women and it appears that anywhere from 10-20% of women are preoccupied
with some type of imaginary illness all their life. The disorder is episodic
and may last months to years and then disappears.
Many people with hypochondriasis have another
psychiatric disorder like depression, generalized anxiety or panic disorder. In
general, if there is a primary psychiatric disorder like depression, it can be
treated with medications but if the individual only has hypochondriasis, psychotherapy
is offered. Unfortunately psychotherapy often does not work and most individuals
are not compliant with this therapy. No one likes to listen to bogus crap by
therapists-so they just do not show up for the sessions. Plus psychotherapy is
not cheap. The more stupid you look, the more sessions they enroll you for. The
prognosis for hypochondriasis is variable. For those with good family support,
50% recover. Others continue to fake illness and eventually meet a surgeon, who
really frecks them up for good.
The prognosis in children is much better than
in adults.
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