The concept hypochondriasis is now replaced with two new entities Illness Anxiety Disorder (IAD) and Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD) by American Psychiatric Association with new criteria of DSM V. As previously it was plagued by ambiguous definition and unreliable with DSM IV criteria. Disease phobia and disease conviction are the two main components of hypochondriasis. The person often searches for the diseases information and lives in extreme distress and anxiety. These hypochondriac characteristic often seen in medical students. 

Methods: The study targeted 1175 students of which 393 from medical background and 792 was from science university. Students were provided with self assessment questionnaire based on HAI (Health anxiety Inventory). Statistical analysis was done on observation on Anxiety index by using Chi – square on statistical software SPSS Version 22.

Results:  Prevalence of IAD and SSD and disease phobia level was slightly more seen for medical students compare to non medical as the fact they have to deal with the characteristic of disease throughout their life & has to read about it

Conclusion: The overall prevalence for SSD and IAD found as 3.28.% among students. However, further clear approach is needed for its classification with DSM V criteria. This because of co morbidity categorized and vague assessment for patients symptomatic behavior. It recommends for finding prevalence on general population with large sample size also the demographic factors affecting the results with more specific categorization to avoid co morbidity and better technique for identifying the patients.

Keywords: Hypochondriasis, Illness Anxiety Disorder (IAD), Somatic Symptoms Disorder (SSD).

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Dr Sharad Manore

Assistant Professor Dept. of Psychiatry,

Govt. Medical College, Rajnandgaon (C.G.) India

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