The key difference between somatization and hypochondriasis is that somatization is characterized by a preoccupation with physical symptoms, such as pain or fatigue, which leads to significant emotional distress and impaired functioning, while hypochondriasis is characterized by an excessive fear of having a serious medical condition or being at high risk of illness, which is not based on reality.
Mental disorders are characterized by a significant disturbance in cognition, emotions, and behavior in individuals. Mental disorders often cause distress or impairment in important areas of functioning. There are different types of mental disorders. Somatization and hypochondriasis are two different types of mental disorders.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Somatization
3. What is Hypochondriasis
4. Similarities – Somatization and Hypochondriasis
5. Somatization vs Hypochondriasis in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Somatization vs Hypochondriasis
What is Somatization?
Somatization is also called somatic symptom disorder (SSD). People who suffer from this condition have an extreme focus on physical symptoms such as pain or fatigue, which causes major emotional distress and problems functioning. Many people with this condition have an anxiety disorder. The distress that these people experience from pain and other problems (neurological problems, gastrointestinal complaints, and sexual symptoms) is real, and this distress significantly affects their daily functioning. The signs and symptoms of this mental disorder include mild to severe physical symptoms like pain, shortness of breath, fatigue or weakness, excessive thoughts, feelings, or behaviors related to those physical symptoms, such as distorted thoughts, unrealistic beliefs, and behaviors that trigger anxiety. Somatization is caused by genetic and biological factors, family influence, negativity in personality traits, decreased awareness, and learned behavior.
Somatization is diagnosed through physical examination and psychological evaluation. Furthermore, treatment options for somatization include psychotherapy, antidepressant medication, lifestyle, and home remedies (working with care providers, practicing stress management, getting physically active, participating in activities, and stopping alcohol and recreational drugs).
What is Hypochondriasis?
Hypochondriasis is also called hypochondria or illness anxiety disorder. People who suffer from this condition have an unrealistic fear that they have a serious medical condition or are at high risk of becoming ill. This mental disorder can be caused by childhood trauma (child abuse), health anxieties, childhood illness or serious illness in the family, mental health issues (anxiety or depression), and trauma like physical or mental abuse. The symptoms of hypochondriasis may include avoiding people or places due to worry, continuously researching diseases, exaggerating physical symptoms, high level of anxiety, obsession with normal body functions like heart rate, oversharing physical symptoms with health professionals and other people, checking for signs of illness repeatedly (taking blood pressure measurements or temperature), seeking reassurance from loved ones, showing uneasiness about normal body functions like gas or sweating.
Hypochondriasis is diagnosed through criteria listed in the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) called Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Furthermore, treatment options for hypochondriasis may include antidepressants and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
What are the Similarities Between Somatization and Hypochondriasis?
- Somatization and hypochondriasis are two different types of mental disorders.
- Both disorders may be characterized by anxiety.
- Both disorders may have complications if not treated properly.
- These disorders may be diagnosed through physical and psychological evaluations.
- They are treated through antidepressants and therapies.
What is the Difference Between Somatization and Hypochondriasis?
Somatization is a mental disorder where people have an extreme focus on physical symptoms such as pain or fatigue, which causes major emotional distress and problems functioning, while hypochondriasis is a mental disorder where people have an unrealistic fear that they have a serious medical condition or at high risk of becoming ill. Thus, this is the key difference between somatization and hypochondriasis. Furthermore, somatization is caused by genetic and biological factors, family influence, negativity in personality traits, decreased awareness, and learned behavior. On the other hand, hypochondriasis is caused by childhood trauma (child abuse), health anxieties, childhood illness or serious illness in the family, mental health issues (anxiety or depression), and trauma like physical or mental abuse.
The below infographic presents the differences between somatization and hypochondriasis in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Somatization vs Hypochondriasis
Somatization and hypochondriasis are two different types of mental disorders. But both these disorders may have similar characteristics, such as anxiety episodes. However, people who suffer from somatization have an extreme focus on physical symptoms such as pain or fatigue that causes major emotional distress and problems functioning, while people who suffer from hypochondriasis have an unrealistic fear that they have a serious medical condition or are at high risk of becoming ill. So, this summarizes the difference between somatization and hypochondriasis.
Reference:
1. “Somatic Symptom Disorder.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 8 May 2018.
2. Debra Kahn, MD. “Illness Anxiety Disorder (Formerly Hypochondriasis).” Background, Pathophysiology, Epidemiology, Medscape, 24 Mar. 2023.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Anxiety, Depression, and Sickness” (CC0) via Pxhere