Somatic disorders: illness anxiety disorder: practice question

A Psychiatry question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Psychiatry · Somatic disorders: illness anxiety disorder

Sample item

A man is convinced that he has an undiagnosed cancer despite repeated negative tests, and has almost no physical symptoms. He keeps checking his body and seeks repeated reassurance. This is:

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Illness anxiety disorder

Illness anxiety disorder (formerly hypochondriasis) is preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious illness, with minimal somatic symptoms and high health anxiety. CBT and SSRIs are helpful.

Option by option

  • A. Somatic symptom disorder

    SSD has prominent somatic symptoms.

  • B. Illness anxiety disorder (correct)

    Correct. Disease preoccupation with minimal symptoms is illness anxiety disorder.

  • C. Delusional disorder, somatic type only

    Delusional somatic belief would be fixed and unreachable and lacking in anxious checking.

  • D. Factitious disorder

    Factitious disorder involves deliberate production of illness.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is B, Illness anxiety disorder. Illness anxiety disorder (formerly hypochondriasis) is preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious illness, with minimal somatic symptoms and high health anxiety.

Why is "Somatic symptom disorder" not the answer?

SSD has prominent somatic symptoms.

Why is "Delusional disorder, somatic type only" not the answer?

Delusional somatic belief would be fixed and unreachable and lacking in anxious checking.

Why is "Factitious disorder" not the answer?

Factitious disorder involves deliberate production of illness.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Somatic disorders: illness anxiety disorder in Psychiatry. CBT and SSRIs are helpful.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Somatic disorders: illness anxiety disorder?

Learn each diagnosis by its core features and its first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other Psychiatry questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.