<Tr> <Th> Synonyms </Th> <Td> Hypochondria, health anxiety, illness anxiety disorder, somatic symptom disorder </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Specialty </Th> <Td> Psychiatry, psychology </Td> </Tr> <P> Hypochondriasis or hypochondria is a condition in which a person is excessively and unduly worried about having a serious illness . An old concept, its meaning has repeatedly changed due to redefinitions in its source metaphors . It has been claimed that this debilitating condition results from an inaccurate perception of the condition of body or mind despite the absence of an actual medical diagnosis . An individual with hypochondriasis is known as a hypochondriac . Hypochondriacs become unduly alarmed about any physical or psychological symptoms they detect, no matter how minor the symptom may be, and are convinced that they have, or are about to be diagnosed with, a serious illness . </P> <P> Often, hypochondria persists even after a physician has evaluated a person and reassured them that their concerns about symptoms do not have an underlying medical basis or, if there is a medical illness, their concerns are far in excess of what is appropriate for the level of disease . Many hypochondriacs focus on a particular symptom as the catalyst of their worrying, such as gastro - intestinal problems, palpitations, or muscle fatigue . To qualify for the diagnosis of hypochondria the symptoms must have been experienced for at least 6 months . </P>

What do you call a person that thinks they are always sick