PSYCH 115 Lecture Notes - Lecture 24: Somatic Symptom Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Anxiety Disorder
Document Summary
Severe anxiety about the possibility of having or acquiring a serious disease. Actual symptoms are either very mild or absent. Medical reassurance does not seem to help. Preoccupation with fears of having or acquiring a serious illness. B. somatic symptoms are not present or, if present, are only mild in intensity. If another medical condition is present or there is a high risk for developing a medical condition (e. g. , strong family history is present), the preoccupation is clearly excessive or disproportionate. C. there is a high level of anxiety about health, and the individual is easily alarmed about personal health status. D. the individual performs excessive health-related behaviors (e. g. , repeatedly checks his or her body for signs of illness) or exhibits maladaptive avoidance (e. g. , avoids doctors" appointments and hospitals). E. illness preoccupation has been present for at least 6 months, but the specific illness that is feared may change over that period of time.
