Which disorder involves preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious illness with few or no somatic symptoms?

• A. Illness Anxiety Disorder
• B. Somatic Symptom Disorder
• C. Conversion Disorder
• D. Factitious Disorder

Answer: (A)

This question tests understanding of how anxiety about illness differs from real somatic symptoms or deliberate deception. When someone is preoccupied with having or acquiring a serious illness despite few or no somatic symptoms, the pattern fits Illness Anxiety Disorder. The defining feature is high health-related worry with minimal or nonspecific physical symptoms, along with excessive health-directed behaviors (like repeated checking or seeking reassurance) and persistent concern for a prolonged period, typically without substantial somatic distress.

Somatic Symptom Disorder would involve significant, distressing somatic symptoms plus excessive thoughts about them. Conversion Disorder centers on neurological symptoms that cannot be explained medically. Factitious Disorder involves intentional fabrication or feigning of illness to assume the sick role, often with deception.