Which disorder is defined by preoccupation with acquiring or having a serious illness, with somatic symptoms not present or only mild in intensity, for at least six months?

• A. Anxiety Disorders
• B. Illness Anxiety Disorder
• C. Somatic Symptom Disorder
• D. Adjustment Disorders

Answer: (B)

Illness Anxiety Disorder centers on fear and preoccupation about having or acquiring a serious illness, even when somatic symptoms are mild or absent. The key feature is that the concern persists for a long duration—typically at least six months—and the focus is on health worry rather than on actual bodily symptoms. People with this pattern may repeatedly seek reassurance, check for signs of illness, or avoid medical care or situations they associate with illness, because the fear drives their behavior.

This is distinct from Somatic Symptom Disorder, where prominent physical symptoms themselves are present and cause significant distress or disruption. It’s also different from general Anxiety Disorders, which aren’t specifically anchored in concerns about health. And it’s not an Adjustment Disorder, which is tied to a reaction to a stressor rather than a persistent, health-centered preoccupation.