The restrictive concept of good health in patients with hypochondriasis

The restrictive concept of good health and the misinterpretation of bodily symptoms as a sign of illness are considered in the DSM and in well-established cognitive models as central characteristics of hypochondriasis. However, until now it has not been satisfactorily resolved whether this tendency is unique for hypochondriasis. In the current study a modified card sorting technique was used to investigate the extent to which bodily complaints were seen as compatible with a state of good health. We found that patients with hypochondriasis (n = 45) showed a more restrictive concept of good health than anxiety patients (n = 45) and healthy controls (n = 45). Those differences were only observable when a concrete evaluation of own bodily symptoms was carried out in comparison to a more general evaluation of symptoms. The misinterpretation of bodily symptoms demonstrates to be a highly specific characteristic of hypochondriasis.

► The tendency to misinterpret bodily symptoms was found to be unique for hypochondriasis.
► A more concrete bodily threat increased the bias to misinterpret bodily symptoms.
► The concreteness of the threat affected patients with hypochondriasis in particular.