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Diagnostic and treatment interventions for hypochondriasis in the neurology setting

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Opinion statement

Many patients who present to neurology settings with somatic complaints have underlying fear of illness, anxiety, or depression. Hypochondriasis, which is one of the somatoform disorders, contributes to high use of services and frustration on the part of clinicians, because diagnostic and treatment interventions often fail. The challenges for clinicians include how to distinguish true somatic symptoms from those associated with fear or other psychiatric symptoms. Our goal is to provide the clinician with an integrated approach for the triage, assessment (history, screening tools, examination, and diagnostic tests), and treatment of these challenging patients. Recommendations are made regarding psychiatric consultation and comanagement between fields for complex patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Davis, 2230 Stockton Boulevard, 95817, Sacramento, CA, USA

    Donald M. Hilty MD

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  1. Donald M. Hilty MD
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  2. James A. Bourgeois OD, MD
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  3. Celia H. Chang MD
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Hilty, D.M., Bourgeois, J.A. & Chang, C.H. Diagnostic and treatment interventions for hypochondriasis in the neurology setting. Curr Treat Options Neurol 8, 401–409 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11940-006-0029-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11940-006-0029-3

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