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Hypochondriasis Vs Delusional disorder

11K views 9 replies 6 participants last post by  shanky 
#1 ·
So basically i had a UW question about a woman CONVINCED she has cancer, despite all doctors reassurance, when asked she says: believe me, when you have cancer you know ...

How is that different from Hypochondriasis!??! where patients -and i quote- believe that they have a SPECIFIC diseases despite reassurance!!!!!
 
#3 ·
How is that differentiating in the real world!?!?!? i am telling you, this is the question VERBATIM : a woman CONVINCED she has cancer, despite all doctors reassurance, when asked she says: believe me, when you have cancer you know ...

Why is that delusional and NOT hypochondriasis?!?!?!
 
#5 ·
it's always difficult to differentiate hypochondriasis from other delusional or anxiety disorders.

One trick, is that always look for actual symptoms. Like for example the patient is really having chest pain but he's convinced that's it's due to MI even though he was reassured it's not.
In your case the lady does not appear to have actual symptoms. If the question writer wanted you to answer hypochondriasis he would have then made the lady answer something like "I have weight loss and am sure it's due to cancer"

Also the DSM IV criteria specifically referred to the differentiation in the definition criteria, here's a quote (focus on the bold text)

The DSM-IV defines hypochondriasis according to the following criteria:

A. Preoccupation with fears of having, or the idea that one has, a serious disease based on the person's misinterpretation of bodily symptoms.
B. The preoccupation persists despite appropriate medical evaluation and reassurance.
C. The belief in Criterion A is not of delusional intensity (as in Delusional Disorder, Somatic Type) and is not restricted to a circumscribed concern about appearance (as in Body Dysmorphic Disorder).
D. The preoccupation causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
E. The duration of the disturbance is at least 6 months.
F. The preoccupation is not better accounted for by Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Panic Disorder, a Major Depressive Episode, Separation Anxiety, or another Somatoform Disorder.
 
#10 ·
Hypochondriasis vs delusional disorder

Was perplexed with the same question, so googled and found this thread:)
Thanks folks!
I think looking out for anxiety and functional impairment along with the delusion in the vignette would solve the crisis. As delusional folks are quite relaxed and function well.
 
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