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Current Psychiatry Reports
Published in: Current Psychiatry Reports 4/2010

01-08-2010

Health Anxiety: Current Perspectives and Future Directions

Authors: Gordon J. G. Asmundson, Jonathon S. Abramowitz, Ashley A. Richter, Margaret Whedon

Published in: Current Psychiatry Reports | Issue 4/2010

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Abstract

Health anxiety is a ubiquitous experience that arises when bodily sensations or changes are believed to be indicative of a serious disease. Severe expressions of health anxiety are most often classified as hypochondriasis in the current DSM-IV-TR; however, various alternative classification schemas have been proposed for the DSM-V. Regardless of classification, severe health anxiety has significant negative impacts on well-being, social and occupational functioning, and health care resource utilization. In this review, we focus on classification issues pertinent to severe health anxiety, summarize recent research regarding potential mechanisms underlying the condition, and summarize the state of the art with respect to assessment and treatment. Future research directions are noted and suggested throughout.
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Metadata
Title
Health Anxiety: Current Perspectives and Future Directions
Authors
Gordon J. G. Asmundson
Jonathon S. Abramowitz
Ashley A. Richter
Margaret Whedon
Publication date
01-08-2010
Publisher
Current Science Inc.
Published in
Current Psychiatry Reports / Issue 4/2010
Print ISSN: 1523-3812
Electronic ISSN: 1535-1645
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-010-0123-9

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