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ILLNESS ANXIETY DISORDER
Illness anxiety disorder is characterised by persistent preoccupation with or fear about the possibility of having one or more serious, progressive or life-threatening diseases. The preoccupation is associated with catastrophic misinterpretation of bodily signs or symptoms, including normal or commonplace sensations, and is manifest either in repetitive and excessive health-related behaviours, doctor shopping behaviour or in maladaptive avoidance behaviours related to health. The preoccupation or fear is not simply a reasonable concern related to a specific context of the patient, and persists or reoccurs despite appropriate medical evaluation and reassurance. The symptoms result in significant distress or significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of functioning.