Hypochondriasis and fear of death

Russell Noyes Jr; Scott Stuart; Susan L Longley; Douglas R Langbehn; Rachel L Happel

doi:10.1097/00005053-200208000-00002

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Journal article

Peer reviewed

Hypochondriasis and fear of death

Russell Noyes Jr, Scott Stuart, Susan L Longley, Douglas R Langbehn and Rachel L Happel

The journal of nervous and mental disease, Vol.190(8), pp.503-509

08/2002

DOI: 10.1097/00005053-200208000-00002

PMID: 12193834

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Abstract

Although fear of death has been linked to hypochondriasis, the relationship of this fear to the disorder has received little study. To address this deficiency, we administered a fear of death scale along with measures of hypochondriasis, including the Whiteley Index and Somatic Symptom Inventory, to 162 general medical outpatients. Partial correlations, controlling for age, between the fear of death scale and both the Whiteley Index and Somatic Symptom Inventory were strongly positive. A factor analysis of the fear of death scale yielded three dimensions-fear of dying, loss of meaning, and fear of separation-that were also highly correlated with hypochondriasis. Fear of death and hypochondriasis showed comparable relationships to age and gender as well as to personality dimensions measured by the NEO Five-Factor Inventory. Fear of death appears to be an integral part of hypochondriasis. Its presence lends support to three models of hypochondriasis-the perceptual, existential, and interpersonal-that correspond to the dimensions of fear of death.

Comorbidity

Ambulatory Care

Psychiatric Status Rating Scales - statistics & numerical data

Existentialism - psychology

Humans

Middle Aged

Male

Hypochondriasis - psychology

Female

Surveys and Questionnaires

Hypochondriasis - diagnosis

Personality Inventory - statistics & numerical data

Child

Child Abuse - statistics & numerical data

Divorce - psychology

Attitude to Health

Life Change Events

Models, Psychological

Psychometrics

Attitude to Death

Divorce - statistics & numerical data

Fear

Child Abuse - psychology

Sex Factors

Health Status

Details

Title: Subtitle: Hypochondriasis and fear of death
Creators: Russell Noyes Jr - Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, College of Medicine, Psychiatry Research, Medical Education Building, Iowa City 52242-1000, USA
Scott Stuart
Susan L Longley
Douglas R Langbehn
Rachel L Happel
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: The journal of nervous and mental disease, Vol.190(8), pp.503-509
DOI: 10.1097/00005053-200208000-00002
PMID: 12193834
NLM abbreviation: J Nerv Ment Dis
ISSN: 0022-3018
eISSN: 1539-736X
Publisher: United States
Language: English
Date published: 08/2002
Academic Unit: Psychiatry; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
Record Identifier: 9984003941302771

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