In the recently updated Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the diagnostic concept of hypochondriasis was eliminated and replaced by somatic symptom disorder and illness anxiety disorder. Hypochondriasis and Health Anxiety: A Guide for Clinicians, edited by Vladan Starcevic and Russell Noyes and written by prominent clinicians and researchers in the field, addresses current issues in recognizing, understanding, and treating hypochondriasis. Using a pragmatic approach, it offers a wealth of clinically useful information. The book also provides a critical review of the underlying conceptual and treatment issues, addressing varying perspectives and synthesizing the current research.Specific topics the text covers include: clinical manifestations, diagnostic and conceptual issues, classification, relationships with other disorders, assessment, epidemiology, economic aspects, course, outcome and treatment. Additionally, the book discusses patient-physician relationship in the context of hypochondriasis and health anxiety and presents cognitive, behavioral, interpersonal and psychodynamic models and treatments. The authors also address the neurobiological underpinnings of hypochondriasis and health anxiety and pharmacological treatment approaches.Based on the extensive clinical experience of its authors, there are numerous case illustrations and practical examples of how to assess, understand and manage individuals presenting with disease preoccupations, health anxiety and/or beliefs that they are seriously ill. It approaches its subject from various perspectives and is a work of integration and critical thinking about an area often shrouded in controversy.

Chapter 1Introduction and key issuesVladan Starcevic and Russell Noyes Jr.Chapter 2Clinical manifestations of hypochondriasis and related conditionsLaura Sirri and Giovanni A. FavaChapter 3Diagnosis and classification of hypochondriasisJustine N. Pannekoek and Dan J. SteinChapter 4Relationships with other psychopathology and differential diagnosis of hypochondriasisVladan StarcevicChapter 5Assessment of hypochondriasis and health anxietySusan Longley, Katherine Meyers, Rachel Maxwell and Letizia BoinChapter 6Epidemiological and economic aspects of hypochondriasis and health anxietyKarl Looper and Philip DickinsonChapter 7Course and outcome of hypochondriasis and health anxietyRussell Noyes Jr.Chapter 8Management and physician-patient relationship in hypochondriasisRussell Noyes Jr.Chapter 9Cognitive and behavioral models and cognitive-behavioral and related therapies for health anxiety and hypochondriasisTheo K. BoumanChapter 10Interpersonal psychotherapy for hypochondriasis and related disorders: an attachment-based approachScott StuartChapter 11Psychodynamic models and therapeutic approaches to hypochondriasisDon R. LipsittChapter 12Pharmacological treatment and neurobiology of hypochondriasis, illness anxiety and somatic symptomsKelli J. K. Harding and Brian A. Fallon