Veddegjærde Kari-Elise Frøystad, Skogen Jens Christoffer, Wilhelmsen Ingvard, Sivertsen Børge
Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Department of Psychiatry and Drug Abuse, Ålesund Hospital, Møre og Romsdal Health Trust, Ålesund, Norway.
BJPsych Open. 2025 May 15;11(3):e108. doi: 10.1192/bjo.2025.68.
Hypochondriacal disorder involves persistent anxiety about suffering from an undetected serious medical condition, despite medical reassurance. Hypochondriacal disorder significantly affects social relationships, occupational functioning and personal well-being. In university settings, where mental health concerns are prevalent, insights into prevalence of hypochondriacal disorder and associations with depression and other health challenges are essential.
This study examines the prevalence and correlates of hypochondriacal disorder among Norwegian university students, focusing on its associations with depression, mental distress and somatic symptom burden.
The 2022 Students' Health and Wellbeing Study, a national survey of Norwegian higher education students, included 59 536 participants aged 18-35. Participants were categorised based on a pre-defined diagnostic list of mental and somatic concerns, and participants were grouped as follows: hypochondriacal disorder only, depression only, comorbid hypochondriacal disorder and depression and controls. Validated instruments included the Somatic Symptom Scale-8, the Hopkins Symptoms Checklist, the Satisfaction With Life Scale, an abbreviated version of the University of California, Los Angeles, Three-Item Loneliness Scale and four items on suicidal ideation.
Hypochondriacal disorder was reported by 0.86% ( = 457) of participants, with 52% also reporting depression. Those with hypochondriacal disorder had significantly worse mental and somatic health outcomes, especially when comorbid with depression, including elevated distress, suicidality, insomnia and poor quality of life.
Although uncommon, hypochondriacal disorder is linked to severe mental and somatic health burdens, particularly when co-occurring with depression. These findings highlight the need for integrated mental health strategies in academic settings to address hypochondriacal disorder and its frequent comorbidities.
疑病症患者尽管已得到医学上的保证，但仍持续焦虑自己患有未被发现的严重疾病。疑病症严重影响社会关系、职业功能和个人幸福感。在心理健康问题普遍存在的大学环境中，了解疑病症的患病率以及与抑郁症和其他健康挑战的关联至关重要。
本研究调查挪威大学生中疑病症的患病率及其相关因素，重点关注其与抑郁症、心理困扰和躯体症状负担的关联。
2022年学生健康与幸福研究是一项针对挪威高等教育学生的全国性调查，共有59536名年龄在18至35岁之间的参与者。参与者根据预先定义的心理和躯体问题诊断清单进行分类，分组如下：仅患有疑病症、仅患有抑郁症、同时患有疑病症和抑郁症以及对照组。经过验证的工具包括躯体症状量表-8、霍普金斯症状清单、生活满意度量表、加利福尼亚大学洛杉矶分校三项孤独量表的简化版以及四项自杀意念相关条目。
0.86%（n = 457）的参与者报告患有疑病症，其中52%的人还报告患有抑郁症。患有疑病症的人在心理和躯体健康方面的结果明显更差，尤其是与抑郁症共病时，包括更高的困扰、自杀倾向、失眠和生活质量差。
尽管疑病症并不常见，但它与严重的心理和躯体健康负担有关，尤其是与抑郁症同时出现时。这些发现凸显了在学术环境中需要综合心理健康策略来解决疑病症及其常见的共病问题。
