Which disorders must be ruled out before diagnosing Illness Anxiety Disorder?

• A. Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder
• B. Somatic Symptom Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Delusional Disorder, Somatic Type
• C. Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder
• D. Social Anxiety Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Answer: (B)

Illness anxiety disorder centers on persistent worry about having or acquiring a serious illness, with little or no significant somatic symptoms. To make this diagnosis accurately, other conditions that could explain the health preoccupation must be ruled out.

If there are prominent somatic symptoms that are distressing or disruptive, the picture fits somatic symptom disorder rather than illness anxiety disorder. If the concern arises within the framework of obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors about health, OCD may be the better fit. And if the belief of illness is fixed and delusional, not amenable to reason, this points to delusional disorder, somatic type.

By distinguishing these, you ensure the symptom pattern truly reflects illness anxiety rather than another disorder with overlapping health-focused features.