Which statement best differentiates Somatic Symptom Disorder from Illness Anxiety Disorder?

• A. SSD is defined by excessive fear of illness with no somatic symptoms; IAD requires somatic symptoms.
• B. SSD includes prominent somatic symptoms with excessive thoughts; IAD involves health anxiety with minimal somatic symptoms.
• C. SSD is a form of factitious disorder.
• D. SSD and IAD are the same condition.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is differentiating whether the distress centers on actual bodily symptoms or on the fear of having a serious illness. Somatic Symptom Disorder is defined by one or more prominent somatic symptoms that are distressing or disrupt daily life, combined with excessive thoughts, feelings, or behaviors about those symptoms. In contrast, Illness Anxiety Disorder is about health anxiety itself—a preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious illness—while somatic symptoms, if present, are mild or not the focus. So the best statement says that Somatic Symptom Disorder involves prominent somatic symptoms with excessive thoughts about them, whereas Illness Anxiety Disorder involves health anxiety with minimal or no prominent somatic symptoms. The other options misstate this relationship: SSD is not defined by fear of illness with no symptoms, SSD is not a form of factitious disorder, and the two conditions are not the same.