Classification and associations of hyprochondriasis in patients from a psychiatric hospital.

This study investigated the application of two commonly used classification systems for hypochondriacal patients from a psychiatric hospital as well as other aspects of their condition. Twenty patients with marked hypochondriacal features were examined. One satisfied criteria of the diagnosis of primary hypochondriasis and nine more had secondary diagnoses of hypochondriasis or somatization disorder. It is suggested that a secondary diagnosis of hypochondriasis would be useful for those patients with marked hypochondriacal features who have other psychiatric disorders and are at present excluded from the diagnosis of hypochondriasis in these classification systems.