What is the Whiteley Index used for?

• A. Somatic symptom burden
• B. Depression severity
• C. Anxiety disorders
• D. Health anxiety and illness-related worries

Answer: (D)

The Whiteley Index measures health anxiety and illness-related worries. It’s a brief self-report tool designed to quantify how preoccupied a person is with having a serious illness and how much health concerns drive their thoughts and behaviors (like frequent checking or reassurance seeking). This focus on illness-related worry distinguishes it from measures of somatic symptom burden, which assess the physical symptoms themselves, and from general depression or anxiety scales, which don’t specifically target health-related fears. In clinical use, it helps identify health anxiety levels and can guide interventions such as cognitive-behavioral strategies that address misinterpretations of symptoms and excessive illness concerns.