People with hypochondria are catastrophizers, says Brian A. Fallon, MD, an associate professor of clinical psychiatry at New York State Psychiatric Institute. The disorder can take many forms. Some people become anxious or depressed, and others become obsessed with learning everything they can about symptoms and illnesses. Some go from doctor to doctor, hoping to find a diagnosis or confirmation of their fears, while others are afraid to seek treatment at all. With the latter, it’s often a worried spouse, like Serrano, or a family doctor who encourages them to get psychiatric help.
Hypochondria seems to be a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder, and it might be caused by an imbalance of serotonin, a mood stabilizer, or other chemicals in the brain. There’s no cure, but cognitive behavioral therapy, antidepressant medications, or a combination of the two help some people.
Hypochondria can be just as hard on a partner. “It can lead to great strain in the relationship to have the repetitive need for reassurance driving all interactions,” Fallon says.