A 30-year-old accountant spends several hours daily examining his skin for lumps, repeatedly requests full blood counts and scans, and reads oncology websites for hours. He reports no pain or any current bodily symptom, only intense worry that he has cancer. Reassurance from a normal scan lasts only a few days. This state has persisted for two years. What is the most likely diagnosis?
- A Illness anxiety disorder ✓
- B Somatic symptom disorder
- C Generalised anxiety disorder
- D Delusional disorder, somatic type
Correct answer: A. Illness anxiety disorder
Explanation
Illness anxiety disorder is defined by preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious illness lasting at least six months, with absent or only mild somatic symptoms. The absence of any distressing bodily symptom is the discriminating point: somatic symptom disorder requires at least one prominent somatic symptom, so it is the classic trap here. Delusions are fixed and unshakeable, whereas this patient accepts reassurance transiently.
Reference: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), 5th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.