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

• A. Illness Anxiety Disorder involves prominent somatic symptoms that are distressing.
• B. Somatic Symptom Disorder is defined by excessive anxiety about health and illness, regardless of symptoms.
• C. Illness Anxiety Disorder involves preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious illness.
• D. Somatic Symptom Disorder requires the absence of any health-related anxiety.

Answer: (C)

The core idea is where the worry is aimed. Illness Anxiety Disorder is defined by preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious illness, with little or no prominent somatic symptoms. Somatic Symptom Disorder, on the other hand, centers on one or more actual somatic symptoms that are distressing or disruptive, with excessive thoughts, feelings, or behaviors about those symptoms.

So the statement that Illness Anxiety Disorder involves preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious illness is the best fit. The other options mischaracterize the disorders: prominent somatic symptoms point to Somatic Symptom Disorder rather than Illness Anxiety Disorder; excessive health anxiety without clear somatic symptoms aligns with Illness Anxiety Disorder; and Somatic Symptom Disorder does not require absence of health-related anxiety.