Hypochondriasis

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Hypochondriasis (heye-poh-kon-DREYE-ah-sis) is an ongoing fear that you have a serious illness when you do not. Because you are very anxious about your health, you may go to many different caregivers. When caregivers tell you that you do not have a serious health problem, you may not believe them. Hypochondriasis can make you feel very frustrated and depressed (sad).
  
  
• With hypochondriasis, you may have physical (body) symptoms. These symptoms may be imagined (in your mind), or they may be real but harmless feelings. For example, you may notice normal body functions such as your heart beating or your intestines (bowels) gurgling. You may believe that these normal feelings of your body working inside are signs of illness. You may worry a lot about minor physical problems, such as a headache or diarrhea (loose bowel movements). You may be sure that a minor symptom means that you have a bad illness. You may hear or read about a disease or illness and believe that you have it. Talk therapy, other therapies, and special medicines may be used to treat hypochondriasis.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

Hypochondriasis can cause you much stress and worry. Money can be wasted on medical treatments that are not needed and may even have risks of their own. You may want tests, medicines, or surgery that is not needed. Over time, caregivers may not believe you when you tell them about symptoms of a real health problem.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Care options:

• Inpatient unit: An inpatient hospital unit has bedrooms and a living area. Sometimes the doors of this unit are locked.
  
  
• Partial care program: This is when you come to the unit every day during the day or evening. After you are treated each day, you go home.
  
  
• Intensive outpatient program: This is when you come to the hospital or clinic for a few hours of treatment, two to five times a week.
  
  
• Outpatient program: This is when you meet with your therapist once a week or less. Appointments are one hour long or shorter. You could meet with your therapist alone or with a group of people. You may have few or many scheduled appointments over time.

Types of caregivers:

• Psychiatrist: A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who works in the area of mental health. A psychiatrist may be in charge of your medicine. You may work closely with this doctor and other caregivers.
  
  
• Therapist: This is a caregiver with special training that works closely with you during treatment. This person may be a doctor, psychologist, nurse, mental health counselor, or social worker.
  
  
• Primary care doctor: This is a medical doctor who can keep track of all of your medical records.

Psychiatric assessment:

Caregivers will ask if you have a history of psychological trauma, such as physical, sexual, or mental abuse. They will ask if you were given the care that you needed. Caregivers will ask you if you have been a victim of a crime or natural disaster, or if you have a serious injury or disease. They will ask you if you have seen other people being harmed, such as in combat. You will be asked if you drink alcohol or use drugs at present or in the past. Caregivers will ask you if you want to hurt or kill yourself or others. How you answer these questions can help caregivers decide on treatment. To help during treatment, caregivers will ask you about such things as how you feel about it and your hobbies and goals. Caregivers will also ask you about the people in your life who support you.

Medicines:

• Antianxiety medicine: This medicine may be given to decrease anxiety and help you feel calm and relaxed.
  
  
• Antidepressants: This medicine is given to decrease or prevent symptoms of depression (sadness or hopelessness). Antidepressants can also be used to treat other behavior problems. It may take three weeks or more for some antidepressant medicines to start working.

Patient rights:

• Release of information form: This is a legal paper that lets caregivers share information with those listed on the form. You have to sign this form before any information about you can be given to persons outside the hospital.
  
  
• Right to privacy: Information that you share with your caregivers is kept private among caregivers. They will not share information with others without your permission.

Personal:

• Clothes: You can usually wear your own clothes while you are in the hospital.
  
  
• Meals: You will eat your meals in or near your room, or with others in the cafeteria.
  
  
• Personal belongings: Caregivers search your belongings when you are admitted to the unit. Any belongings brought to you during your stay are also searched. This search is done to keep you and the caregivers safe.

Safety:

• 72-hour hold: This is when you are put in the hospital by police or a caregiver for 72 hours without your permission. This may only be done if there is concern that you may hurt yourself or others.
  
  
• Quiet room: This is an empty room used for patients who need to have time out in a safe place. You may be put here if caregivers are worried that you may hurt yourself or others.
  
  
• Restraints: There are two types of restraints that may be used while you are in the hospital. They will only be used if caregivers feel you are in danger of hurting yourself or others. Physical restraints may be put on your wrists and ankles and tied to something else. These are usually cloth or leather bands. Other things will be tried before using physical restraints, such as going into a quiet room or seclusion. Caregivers may use "chemical" restraints, which is medicine used to help you gain control of your actions and relax. Restraints should never be used to punish you.
  
  
• Seclusion: This is when you need to be locked in a safe room. Caregivers will closely watch you while you are in seclusion. You may come out of seclusion when caregivers feel you will not hurt yourself or others.
  
  
• Sharps: You are not allowed to keep any sharp items with you. Sharp items may include scissors, nail files, razors, pens, mirrors, or other glass objects.
  
  
• Time out: This is time spent away from other people. This is usually needed when you are not able to control your behavior. You may be put in time out if your behavior is affecting others. Time out may be in your room or another room.

Types of therapeutic sessions:

• Couples therapy: You and your significant other meet with a caregiver to talk about how to cope with your illness. Your significant other may be your spouse (husband or wife), or a boyfriend or girlfriend.
  
  
• Family meetings: Your caregivers will meet with you and your family to talk about problems.
  
  
• Group therapy: This is a series of meetings that you attend with other patients and staff. During these meetings, patients and staff talk together about ways to cope.
  
  
• Individual therapy: This is a time for you to talk to your therapist alone.

Types of therapy approaches:

• Assertiveness training teaches you to stand up for yourself. It teaches you how to ask for what you need, how to set limits, and how to say no.
  
  
• Biofeedback teaches your body to respond in a different way to stress. Teaching your body to relax can help you feel more in control. Caregivers may use a biofeedback machine so that you know right away when your body is relaxed. You can learn to do this without a machine. If you learn to take your pulse, you can make it slow down by thinking hard about it. This can work with breathing, temperature, and blood pressure also.
  
  
• Cognitive behavior therapy , or CBT, helps to make you more aware of how you think about things. You may have trouble seeing the good in things around you. Then you are more likely to feel depressed, sad or angry. Cognitive therapy teaches you to learn how you see things in a more positive way.
  
  
• Distraction is a way of focusing your attention on something other than your problem or feelings. Playing cards or games, watching TV, or taking a walk are all ways to do this. Other ways are visiting with friends, painting, petting animals, and writing down your feelings. These planned activities may help you manage your feelings. They may also help you relax and start feeling better about yourself and your life.
  
  
• Hypnosis teaches you to change your level of awareness. This means that caregivers teach you to focus your attention so you can move away from upsetting feelings. You make yourself open to suggestions, like feeling happy and having more energy. Hypnosis can give long-lasting relief from depression without changing your normal activities. This treatment gives you better control of your body. After practice, you can learn to do hypnosis when you are by yourself.
  
  
• Insight oriented therapy makes you think about things that have happened in the past. It helps you to understand your feelings and behavior now as it relates to past events.
  
  
• Relaxation is another way to focus your attention on something other than your feelings. There are many different ways that you can relax. Ask your caregiver for more information about types of relaxation therapy that may be right for you.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Learn more about Hypochondriasis (Inpatient Care)