Health anxiety and the non-medical use of prescription drugs in young adults: A cross-sectional study

• Young adults who misused prescription drugs had higher health anxiety scores.
• Misusers also had more doctor appointments and chronic health conditions.
• Hopelessness and sensation-seeking were risk factors for prescription drug misuse.
• Health anxiety predicted prescription drug misuse over and above these variables.

IntroductionStudies have demonstrated a relation between health anxiety (hypochondriasis) and substance use, but this minimal body of literature has focused on alcohol or illicit drugs. The use of medications without a physician's prescription (i.e., non-medical use of prescription drugs, NMUPD) is increasingly prevalent among young adults. Health anxiety, a tendency to worry excessively about health, is a factor that could contribute to NMUPD, but this has not been examined. The purpose of the current study was to examine the relations among health anxiety, NMUPD, and other psychological variables related to substance use.MethodsIn the present study, young adult college students (N = 758), ages 18–25, completed an anonymous online survey assessing demographics, health anxiety, NMUPD, and other psychological characteristics, including depression and general anxiety.ResultsParticipants who reported NMUPD had higher scores in health anxiety, as well as more frequent healthcare appointments, and were more likely to report having a chronic health condition. Given that multiple factors influence a decision to engage in NMUPD, a multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed. Results suggested that hopelessness, sensation-seeking, and health anxiety were risk factors for NMUPD, and that health anxiety predicted NMUPD over and above these other variables.ConclusionsMedical professionals and mental health service providers should be aware of the increased risk of NMUPD for patients with health anxiety. Future research on NMUPD should more closely examine the role of health anxiety.