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Research shows that health anxiety significantly affects older adults' health and quality of life. Although exercise may be associated with lower health anxiety, research on older adults is limited, and the mechanism remains unknown. This study examined the association between exercise and health anxiety in older women and the mediating role of anxiety sensitivity in this association. Participants were 166 women aged 65+ years, without health problems that prevented them from exercising. Participants were recruited via Facebook advertisements. They completed an online self-report questionnaire including measures of health anxiety, physical activity, and anxiety sensitivity. The SPSS PROCESS macro was used to examine the association between exercise and health anxiety, and the role of anxiety sensitivity as a mediator. Results indicated that greater participation in exercise was associated with lower health anxiety, and anxiety sensitivity mediated the association. Findings suggest that exercise-based interventions might prevent health anxiety in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health anxiety is an intricate part of illness anxiety and somatic symptom disorder. Based on convenience samples, two out of three available studies indicate that it is a dimensional rather than a categorical construct. Using two representative datasets, this study investigates whether previous results can be clarified. Conventional taxometric analyses as well as comparison curve fit indices (CCFI) profile analyses (MAMBAC and MAXSLOPE procedures) were calculated with two datasets of the German adult population assessing the Whiteley Index (WI-14, N = 2,072; WI-7, N = 2,498). Mean CCFIs indicated a dimensional structure for both the WI-7 (mean CCFI = 0.42, mean CCFI profile = 0.40) and the WI-14 (mean CCFI = 0.44, mean CCFI profile = 0.32). The results support and extend previous findings by strongly suggesting a dimensional distribution of health anxiety in the general population. Implications for research and practice comprise the adoption of a dimensional description of psychopathology as well as transdiagnostic treatment approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe aim of this paper is to propose a psychodynamic hypothesis based on control-mastery theory (CMT) about the self-punishment function of some non-psychotic hypochondriacal states. After a review of several major psychoanalytic hypotheses about hypochondria, we will show the main concepts of CMT, an integrative, relational, cognitive-dynamic theory of mental functioning, psychopathology, and therapeutic process that is the theoretical framework that has helped us understand and treat these states in our patients. We will then describe two clinical cases to show how some hypochondriacal states can be interpreted as self-punishments connected to three main kinds of guilt hypothesized by CMT: survivor guilt, burdening guilt, and separation/disloyalty guilt. Finally, we will discuss the implications of these hypotheses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pathological health anxiety (PHA) (e.g., hypochondriasis and illness anxiety disorder) is common in medical settings and associated with increased healthcare costs. However, the psychological and neurobiological mechanisms contributing to the development and maintenance of PHA are incompletely understood. We performed a systematic review to characterize the mechanistic understanding of PHA. PubMed, PsycINFO, and Embase databases were searched to find articles published between 1/1/1990 and 12/31/2022 employing a behavioral task and/or physiological measures in individuals with hypochondriasis, illness anxiety disorder, and PHA more broadly. Out of 9141 records identified, fifty-seven met inclusion criteria. Article quality varied substantially across studies, and was overall inadequate. Cognitive, behavioral, and affective findings implicated in PHA included health-related attentional and memory recall biases, a narrow health concept, threat confirming thought patterns, use of safety-seeking behaviors, and biased explicit and implicit affective processing of health-related information among other observations. There is initial evidence supporting a potential overestimation of interoceptive stimuli in those with PHA. Neuroendocrine, electrophysiology, and brain imaging research in PHA are particularly in their early stages. Included articles evaluated PHA categorically, suggesting that sub-threshold and dimensional health anxiety considerations are not contextualized. Within an integrated cognitive-behavioral-affective and predictive processing formulation, we theorize that sub-optimal illness and health concepts, altered interoceptive modeling, biased illness-based predictions and attention, and aberrant prediction error learning are mechanisms relevant to PHA requiring more research. Comprehensively investigating the pathophysiology of PHA offers the potential to identify adjunctive diagnostic biomarkers and catalyze new biologically-informed treatments. • Systematic review of mechanistic studies in pathological health anxiety. • Cognitive, behavioral and affective constructs are implicated. • Neurobiological research in pathological health anxiety remains limited. • A predictive processing framework for pathological health anxiety is offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Objective Methods Results Conclusions In the autosomal recessive disorder of copper metabolism, Wilson's disease (WD), patients present hepatic, neurological, and psychiatric symptoms combined in different and unpredictable ways. Brain pathology primarily affects the basal ganglia and may cause movement, cognitive, affective, and behavioral disturbances. Personality traits have been rarely studied in the neurological form of the disease.To investigate whether patients with the neurological form of WD (WDn) have specific personality traits, especially those typical of frontobasal loop dysfunction.The personality of 29 adult WDn patients (without significant cognitive and psychiatric disorders) and 29 matched healthy controls was assessed using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI‐2).Compared to healthy individuals, patients with WDn scored higher on the following MMPI‐2 scales: hypochondriasis, physical malfunctioning, bizarre sensory experiences, health concerns, and general health concerns, with no differentiation between patients and controls on the remaining MMPI‐2 scales.Long‐term treated patients with WDn did not appear to have any specific personality traits reflecting unambiguously frontobasal psychopathology, if self‐report measurement is used. The more strongly exhibited features concerning their actual physical ailments and health anxiety, such as hypochondria, chronic fatigue, and poor psychophysical well‐being, could result from psychological reactions to a chronic disabling brain disease. Further study of personality traits and personality disorders is warranted in patients with clearly defined forms of WD, using various measurement tools. Psychopathological disorders in different forms of WD warrant further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of electronic communication technology has brought about a revolutionary transformation in health information seeking and medical consultation. Beyond traditional avenues like seeking assistance from doctors in hospitals, individuals now have the option to engage in online medical consultations, enhancing their ability to manage routine health effectively. However, an overreliance on online medical consultations driven by heightened health anxiety may contribute to the surge in online health information inquiries, a phenomenon positively associated with the emergence of cyberchondria. In the context of China, where HIV/AIDS is socially stigmatised, cyberchondria related to HIV infection becomes particularly noteworthy. This study delves into the potential consequences of online health information seeking (OHIS) with a specific focus on Kongai BBS, a platform catering for individuals with a fear of AIDS. Our research collected data from 309 male users actively participating in the BBS, who had engaged in high‐risk sexual behaviours in the past 6 months. Applying structural equation modelling (SEM), this study examines the intricate relationships between OHIS, health anxiety, online and offline medical consultations, and cyberchondria. The results indicate that online medical consultation serves as a mediator in the relationship between OHIS and cyberchondria, whereas offline medical consultation does not significantly impact this relationship. These findings contribute valuable insights into the interactive dynamics between online and offline medical consultations, offering practical implications for the prevention of HIV infection in China. Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article's Community and Social Impact Statement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last few decades, a growing field of literature is focusing on hikikomori, a phenomenon described as a form of pathological social withdrawal or social isolation that lasts for more than 6 months leading to significant functional impairment and/or distress. Despite initially considered a culture-bound syndrome, hikikomori syndrome later gained a wider recognition in different countries, ranging from an attempt to take refuge in an idealistic world, when society success' standards are not reached, to a maladaptive coping strategy complicating several psychiatric illnesses such as anxiety disorders, major depression, internet addiction, internet gaming disorder (IGD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In this framework, difficulties in social interaction, in problem solving strategies and socio-emotional reciprocity, may lead to social withdrawal and hikikomori-like behaviors. In this work, we described two cases of patients where the presence of underlying autism spectrum may have represented a sign of vulnerability towards the development of a possible full-blown case of hikikomori with IGD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Being a chronic and prevalent disease in older adults, Alzheimer's disease requires extensive and long-term care from caregivers. The disease significantly increases the burden on family caregivers and can cause physical and mental disorders for them, ultimately hindering their ability to provide adequate care for the patients. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between care burden and health anxiety among the family caregivers of the older adults with Alzheimer's disease. Materials and Methods: A correlational cross-sectional study enrolled 150 family caregivers who had been providing direct care to older adults with Alzheimer's disease for at least six months, chosen by continuous sampling. The study collected data using the Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI) and Health Anxiety Inventory (HAI-18) at the Iranian Alzheimer's Association in 2021. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 25, employing independent t-tests, analysis of variance, and regression analysis. Results: The results indicated that 75 (50%) caregivers had a moderate level of health anxiety, while 43.3% of them reported being anxious about their health to a poor degree. Additionally, 46.6% and 43.3% of caregivers experienced moderate and intense care burden, respectively. Among the other variables studied such as age, sex, level of education, marital status, and economic status, only health anxiety was found to predict the care burden in caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease (P < 0.001). (CI95% Health anxiety: 52.80–58.81, CI95% Care burden: 71.89–79.90, R2: 11.9%). Conclusion: Since there is a significant relationship observed between health anxiety and care burden, it is important for health professionals and caregivers of older adults with Alzheimer's disease to prioritize the health of the caregivers. This requires special attention from healthcare providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health anxiety involves excessive worries about one's health along with beliefs one has an illness or may contract a serious disease. Concerning evidence suggests that health anxiety is on the rise in society, possibly further fueled by the COVID‐19 pandemic. Recent classification systems acknowledge that impairing health‐related worries and beliefs can emerge in early childhood with significant levels of symptoms persisting throughout childhood, and possibly continuous with diagnostic considerations in adulthood. This narrative review summarizes recent research advances in health anxiety in children and adolescents, focusing on various developmental aspects of health anxiety and related concepts in youths. Findings suggest that health anxiety symptoms in young age groups are associated with impairment, distress, and increased healthcare use, as well as substantial comorbidity with mainly other emotional problems and disorders. Furthermore, longitudinal studies suggest that childhood health anxiety can persist across adolescence, perhaps with links to chronic courses in adulthood. The growing literature was further reviewed, thus extending our understanding of early risk factors, including the potential role of exposure to serious illness and transgenerational transmission of health anxiety. Learning more about developmental trajectories will be highly relevant to inform strategies for early detection and prevention. While modified cognitive behavioral therapies in adults are successful in treating health anxiety, specific interventions have not yet been tested in youths. Given substantial overlaps with other psychopathology, it could be important to develop and explore more transdiagnostic and scalable approaches that take advantage of common factors in psychotherapy, while also including a wider perspective on potential familiar maladaptive illness cognitions and behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pregnant women frequently use the internet to obtain health information about pregnancy. The increased anxiety about health during pregnancy can trigger the cyberchondria form of this behavior. This study aimed to investigate cyberchondria and health anxiety in pregnant women. The descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 314 pregnant women who visited the obstetrics clinics of two hospitals in western Turkey between October and December 2019. The Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS-15) and the Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI) were used for data collection. Data were evaluated with parametric tests and correlation analysis. The mean age of pregnant women participating in the study was 28.10 ± 5.19, and 72.6% were unemployed. The CSS-15 mean score was 39.87 ± 8.82, and SHAI was 15.81 ± 6.84. The nulliparous pregnant women, employed university graduates, used the internet almost every day and searched some topics related to pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding and were found to have higher scores on CSS-15 (p < 0.05). A significant positive correlation was found between cyberchondria and health anxiety (r: 0.253, p < 0.001). This study showed that cyberchondria severity increases anxiety in pregnant women. Health professionals should also consider cyberchondria when assessing the anxiety of pregnant women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Religiosity is a phenomenon that expresses living in accordance with the principles of the religion believed in and has dimensions such as belief, knowledge, experience, worship and influence. Neuroticism is a mental disorder that manifests itself with symptoms such as insecurity, fear, anxiety, restlessness, hatred and unhappiness. Neurotic tendencies include anxiety, low self-esteem, unhappiness, lack of autonomy (dependency), hypochondria, obsession, and guilt. There are two opposing views on the relationship between religiosity and neuroticism. The first of these is the view that emphasizes that there is a positive relationship between religiosity and neuroticism. The other view suggests that there is a negative relationship between religiosity and neuroticism. This research aims to examine the research on the relationship between religiosity and neuroticism and neurotic tendencies such as anxiety, low self-esteem, unhappiness, lack of autonomy, morbidity, obsession and guilt. In this context, descriptive literature review method was used. Descriptive and content analysis were used in the analysis of the research. Libraries and databases isam.org.tr, tez.yok.gov.tr, scholar.google.com, ulakbim.gov.tr were used to obtain the data. The concepts of religion, religiosity, neuroticism, neurotic tendencies, anxiety, low self-esteem, unhappiness, guilt, obsession, and delusion were examined in the titles, abstracts, keywords, and text content of the accessed publications. In this review, only studies on the relationship between religiosity and neuroticism and neurotic tendencies were included in our study. A total of 11 studies on the relationship between religiosity and neuroticism were found, including 4(%36,36) books, 3(%27,27) master's theses, 2(%18,18) articles, 1(%09,09) book chapter, and 1(%09,09) declaration. A total of 51 studies, including 1(%01,96) declaration, 23(%45,09) articles, 24(%47,05) master's theses and 3(%05,88) doctoral theses, examined the relationship between religiosity and neurotic tendencies. These 51 studies included 12(%23,52) religiosity and self-esteem-low self-esteem, 12(%23,52) religiosity and happiness-unhappiness, 14(%27,45) religiosity and anxiety, 3(%05,88) religiosity and lack of autonomy, 4(%07,84) studies examining the relationship between religiosity and guilt, and 6(%11,76) studies examining the relationship between religiosity and obsession. The most research has been done on the relationship between religiosity and anxiety (14=%27,45), and the least research has been done on the relationship between religiosity and lack of autonomy (3=%05,88). No studies have been found between religiosity and morbidity. The findings of our research were classified according to the findings of "positive", "negative" or "no relationship" regarding the relationship between religiosity and different dimensions of religiosity and neuroticism and neurotic tendencies. By analyzing the results of the research, the following data were obtained: It was determined that different results were obtained between religiosity and neuroticism, anxiety, low self-esteem, dependent personality, and obsession, and that there was no one-way relationship between them. There appears to be a positive relationship between religiosity and happiness and guilt. As religiosity increases, happiness and guilt also increase. It is very difficult to make a general judgment about the relationship between religiosity and neuroticism because few studies have been done in this field and conflicting results have been obtained. In order to make a more general and healthy assessment of the relationship between religiosity and neuroticism and neurotic tendencies, studies using different methods and techniques are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health anxiety is a condition which can negatively impact the well-being of an individual through rumination or extreme safety measures. However, literature about the factors related to adolescent health anxiety is scarce. In this study, we explored factors potentially related to adolescent health anxiety. Using structural equation modeling, we analyzed data from 1530 Czech adolescents aged 13–18, recruited through quota sampling, and their caregivers (64% female). First, we focused on its transmission from caregiver to offspring and on the moderating effect of gender. Second, we studied the relationship between online health information seeking and adolescent health anxiety with eHealth literacy as a potential moderator. The responses partially supported our hypotheses. Adolescent health anxiety was positively related to the health anxiety of the caregiver. Disease information seeking was positively related to health anxiety, but we found no such effect for fitness information seeking. Finally, eHealth literacy did not moderate online health information seeking. Our results underline that the health anxiety of caregivers and their offspring are intertwined and should ideally be addressed together. Furthermore, we show that for adolescents, like adults, online disease information seeking can be related to health anxiety and should be considered. Highlights: Adolescent health anxiety was positively related to parent health anxiety. Neither the parent's nor the offspring's gender moderated the relationship between adolescent and parental health anxiety. Seeking disease, but not fitness information online was related to health anxiety. eHealth literacy did not moderate the relationship between seeking health information online and health anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Online health information seeking is one of the single most popular platforms in which people gather health-related information. Many sources provide ambiguous and unauthorized health information, which is part of the digital era. Cyberchondria refers to prolonged and repetitive online health searches and negative emotional and physiological responses that occur due to online searches. Health anxiety due to COVID-19 also contributed to online health information seeking. This current study assesses the association between health anxiety and smartphone use with cyberchondria among young adults. Methods: The study sample consisted of 356 individuals aged 18--25 years. We used an online survey for study participants with the Cyberchondria severity scale-12 (CSS-12), Health Anxiety Questionnaire, and the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version. Results: The mean age of participants was 22 years (standard deviation: 2.13). Sixty-two percent of participants used the information obtained by the online platform to diagnose themselves. Excessiveness was more among all other subscales of cyberchondria. The results of linear regression analysis indicated that health anxiety (P < 0.001) and smartphone addiction (P < 0.001) significantly contributed to cyberchondria. Conclusion: This study shows the association between health anxiety and smartphone addiction with cyberchondria. This finding implies the need for a community-level conscientization on cyberchondria. There is a need to carry out promotional and preventive programs regarding the health usage of technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The present study examined the relationship between latent toxoplasmosis and mental disorders. Methods. The sample included 117 toxoplasma-positive volunteers on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Data were collected online using the 71-item abbreviated form of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). Results. According to the results, a) the psychological profile of latent toxoplasmosis patients in the eight clinical scales of MMPI was within the normal range; b) in the male group, ‘duration of infection’ significantly predicted the scores for the four clinical scales of depression, psychopathic deviate, psychasthenia, and schizophrenia; also, ‘age’ predicted the scores for hypochondriasis and schizophrenia in men; c) in the female group, only ‘age’ was able to predict the scores for the scales of hysteria, paranoia, mental weakness, and social deviance; and d) there was no significant difference between male and female groups in any of the clinical scales. Conclusion. Duration of infection with latent toxoplasmosis was associated with depression, psychopathtic deviation, psychasthenia, and schizophrenia in infected males, but this was not the case for the infected females in any of the clinical scales of the 71- item abbreviated form of MMPI. Practical Implications. In mental health screening of individuals with latent toxoplasmosis, males should be screened on the scales of depression, psychopathtic deviation, psychasthenia, and schizophrenia according to the increase in the duration of infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused devastation in multiple facets globally including psychological repercussions. There is increasing evidence of rise in reports of fears of contracting the virus. Just like in any other pandemic, fears associated with developing COVID infection spread over a spectrum from normal concerns to excessive preoccupations. Delineating fears that can be justified in the present scenario from disease entity such as hypochondriasis is challenging. We present a case with excessive fear of contracting coronavirus with repeated checking behaviors to confirm his COVID-positive status which was not amenable in reassurance. Detailed evaluation and identification of psychiatric illness ensure the implementation of appropriate interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to provide a comprehensive summary and synthesis of available evidence on the efficacy of internet-based psychological interventions for pathological health anxiety, as well as to examine the variables that possibly moderate intervention effects. Four databases were searched for the literature up to October 2023. A three-level random-effects model was used to estimate the pooled effect size, with Hedge's g as the measure. We extracted 28 effect sizes from nine eligible randomized controlled trials with 1079 participants. The results showed that internet-based psychological interventions had a moderate to large between-group effect on health anxiety (g = 0.70) that was significant both at post-intervention (g = 0.74) and follow-up (g = 0.64). Furthermore, these interventions were significantly more effective than passive control conditions including waitlist, usual care, and placebo at post-treatment (g = 1.07), but had effects comparable to active control groups at both post-intervention and follow-up. Internet-based psychological interventions are an effective way to alleviate pathological health anxiety. We recommend that these interventions be more widely implemented in routine care settings to ensure easy accessibility for patients with health anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work attempts to deepen earlier considerations on hypochondriasis. Hypochondriasis is understood as an autistoid actual neurosis, the core of which is an early loss of objects, which is accompanied by the abandonment of objectal hopes. As a result, unpsychicised states spread. But how can this core be understood? As a nameless state of nonexistence or as an unrepresented state? How are the most important defences of autistoid and perverse formations organized? It is shown that these autistoid and perverse defences are increasingly sought for their own sake, which, when self-generated and turned into the active, cement the retreat of such dynamics. This constellation is one of the reasons why it is so difficult to treat hypochondriasis, even if the changes in treatment techniques over the last two decades have opened up possibilities [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Points: Question: Are individuals with hypochondriasis at increased risk of death due to natural and unnatural causes? Findings: In this Swedish nationwide matched-cohort study of 4129 individuals with a diagnosis of hypochondriasis and 41 290 demographically matched individuals without hypochondriasis, those with hypochondriasis had an increased risk of death from both natural and unnatural causes, particularly suicide. Meaning: This study suggests that individuals with hypochondriasis have an increased risk of mortality, mainly from potentially preventable causes. Importance: Hypochondriasis, also known as health anxiety disorder, is a prevalent, yet underdiagnosed psychiatric disorder characterized by persistent preoccupation about having serious and progressive physical disorders. The risk of mortality among individuals with hypochondriasis is unknown. Objective: To investigate all-cause and cause-specific mortality among a large cohort of individuals with hypochondriasis. Design, Setting, and Participants: This Swedish nationwide matched-cohort study included 4129 individuals with a validated International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) diagnosis of hypochondriasis assigned between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 2020, and 41 290 demographically matched individuals without hypochondriasis. Individuals with diagnoses of dysmorphophobia (body dysmorphic disorder) assigned during the same period were excluded from the cohort. Statistical analyses were conducted between May 5 and September 27, 2023. Exposure: Validated ICD-10 diagnoses of hypochondriasis in the National Patient Register. Main Outcome and Measures: All-cause and cause-specific mortality in the Cause of Death Register. Covariates included birth year, sex, county of residence, country of birth (Sweden vs abroad), latest recorded education, civil status, family income, and lifetime psychiatric comorbidities. Stratified Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs of all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Results: Of the 4129 individuals with hypochondriasis (2342 women [56.7%]; median age at first diagnosis, 34.5 years [IQR, 26.3-46.1 years]) and 41 290 demographically matched individuals without hypochondriasis (23 420 women [56.7%]; median age at matching, 34.5 years [IQR, 26.4-46.2 years]) in the study, 268 individuals with hypochondriasis and 1761 individuals without hypochondriasis died during the study period, corresponding to crude mortality rates of 8.5 and 5.5 per 1000 person-years, respectively. In models adjusted for sociodemographic variables, an increased rate of all-cause mortality was observed among individuals with hypochondriasis compared with individuals without hypochondriasis (HR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.47-1.93). An increased rate was observed for both natural (HR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.38-1.85) and unnatural (HR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.61-3.68) causes of death. Most deaths from unnatural causes were attributed to suicide (HR, 4.14; 95% CI, 2.44-7.03). The results were generally robust to additional adjustment for lifetime psychiatric disorders. Conclusions and Relevance: This cohort study suggests that individuals with hypochondriasis have an increased risk of death from both natural and unnatural causes, particularly suicide, compared with individuals from the general population without hypochondriasis. Improved detection and access to evidence-based care should be prioritized. This Swedish nationwide cohort study investigates all-cause and cause-specific mortality among a large cohort of individuals with hypochondriasis and a demographically matched cohort of individuals without hypochondriasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Health literacy and cyberchondria are effective for pregnant women to make the right health decisions for themselves and their babies. The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlation between e-health literacy, cyberchondria, and the factors influencing them in pregnant women. Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted on a population of pregnant women who were admitted to two public hospitals located in Samsun. A questionnaire form consisting of 3 sections was used as a data collection tool in the study. Pregnancy information form, e-health literacy scale and cyberchondria scale. The study involved analysing 400 questionnaire forms. Data were analyzed by the frequency test, One Way ANOVA, correlation analysis and multiple regression. Results: The study participants had a mean age of 28.53 ± 6.53. Among them, 60.3% were aged 19-29, 37.3% had an associate degree, 45.3% were pregnant for the first time, and 38.3% were in their second trimester. The mean pregnancy was 1.81 ± 10.63. In the study group, the mean e-health literacy was 3.27 ± 0.99, and the mean cyberchondria was 30.29 ± 9.78. The study found a statistically significant difference in e-health literacy and cyberchondria based on age, educational status, gestational week, and number of pregnancies. Additionally, there was a statistically significant positive relationship between health literacy and cyberchondria severity. Conclusion: The results of the study showed that the level of e-health literacy and cyberchondria of pregnant women was moderate, and that e-health literacy, age and education level would affect cyberchondria. Therefore, this problem can be prevented by providing digital health practices, e-health literacy and safe internet use training to pregnant women in health institutions and the media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online health research is common during pregnancy, especially if women are facing complications. Given the unpleasant emotions women experience after research, it is surprising that cyberchondria, excessive and repeated online health research caused by anxiety that intensifies such anxiety, has not been studied in pregnant women. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the predictors of cyberchondria among women with and without pregnancy complications, accounting for health anxiety (a worry regarding personal health) and pregnancy-specific anxiety (concerns related to pregnancy and childbirth). A total of 360 pregnant women completed a questionnaire consisted of Short Health Anxiety Inventory, Pregnancy Concerns Scale and Short Cyberchondria Scale. The results of one-way MANOVA showed that women who had medically complicated pregnancy had higher levels of health anxiety, pregnancy-specific anxiety and cyberchondria compared to those without complications. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that health anxiety and pregnancy-specific anxiety were predictors of cyberchondria but had different roles depending on complications. Pregnancy-specific anxiety predicted cyberchondria in both groups above health anxiety. Health anxiety predicted cyberchondria only in women without complications. In conclusion, women with complications have a higher chance of experiencing cyberchondria. Pregnancy-specific and health anxiety are risk factors for cyberchondria in pregnant women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the mediating effect of coping styles on the relationship between anxiety triggered by COVID- 19 and health-related anxiety in the general population of Kashan city during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional online questionnaire was used to collect data from 390 participants in Kashan, Iran, between March and April 2020, during the peak of the pandemic. Participants were recruited through snowball sampling. The assessment tools included the Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI), COVID-19 Anxiety Scale, Coping Responses Inventory (CRI), and Body Vigilance Scale (BVS). Descriptive and correlation analyses were performed using SPSS-22, and structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted with Amos- 22 software to analyze the mediating role of coping styles. Results: The Pearson correlation results revealed that problem-solving, social support, and cognitive reappraisal were negatively associated with health anxiety, while emotion-focused and somatization coping strategies were positively associated with health anxiety symptoms (p < .05). The SEM analysis showed that cognitive reappraisal acted as a negative mediator in the relationship between COVID- 19 anxiety and health anxiety. Conclusions: Our findings support previous research indicating that emotion-focused coping strategies can exacerbate anxiety levels. Additionally, we found that cognitive reappraisal may serve as a protective factor in mitigating the transition from COVID-19 anxiety to health anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Suicide in bipolar disorder (BD) is a multifaceted behavior, involving specific neuroendocrine and psychological mechanisms. According to previous studies, we hypothesized that suicidal BD patients may exhibit impaired dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) variability of hippocampal subregions and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity, which may be associated with suicide-related personality traits. The objective of our study was to clarify this. Methods: Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were obtained from 79 patients with BD, 39 with suicidal attempt (SA), and 40 without SA, and 35 healthy controls (HCs). The activity of the HPA axis was assessed by measuring morning plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol (CORT) levels. All participants underwent personality assessment using Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2). Results: BD patients with SA exhibited increased dFC variability between the right caudal hippocampus and the left superior temporal gyrus (STG) when compared with non-SA BD patients and HCs. BD with SA also showed significantly lower ACTH levels in comparison with HCs, which was positively correlated with increased dFC variability between the right caudal hippocampus and the left STG. BD with SA had significantly higher scores of Hypochondriasis, Depression, and Schizophrenia than non-SA BD. Additionally, multivariable regression analysis revealed the interaction of ACTH × dFC variability between the right caudal hippocampus and the left STG independently predicted MMPI-2 score (depression evaluation) in suicidal BD patients. Conclusion: These results suggested that suicidal BD exhibited increased dFC variability of hippocampal-temporal cortex and less HPA axis hyperactivity, which may affect their personality traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Symptom checker applications (SCAs) may help laypeople classify their symptoms and receive recommendations on medically appropriate actions. Further research is necessary to estimate the influence of user characteristics, attitudes and (e)health-related competencies. Objective: The objective of this study is to identify meaningful predictors for SCA use considering user characteristics. Methods: An explorative cross-sectional survey was conducted to investigate German citizens' demographics, eHealth literacy, hypochondria, self-efficacy, and affinity for technology using German language–validated questionnaires. A total of 869 participants were eligible for inclusion in the study. As n = 67 SCA users were assessed and matched 1:1 with non-users, a sample of n = 134 participants were assessed in the main analysis. A four-step analysis was conducted involving explorative predictor selection, model comparisons, and parameter estimates for selected predictors, including sensitivity and post hoc analyses. Results: Hypochondria and self-efficacy were identified as meaningful predictors of SCA use. Hypochondria showed a consistent and significant effect across all analyses OR: 1.24–1.26 (95% CI: 1.1–1.4). Self-efficacy OR: 0.64–0.93 (95% CI: 0.3–1.4) showed inconsistent and nonsignificant results, leaving its role in SCA use unclear. Over half of the SCA users in our sample met the classification for hypochondria (cut-off on the WI of 5). Conclusions: Hypochondria has emerged as a significant predictor of SCA use with a consistently stable effect, yet according to the literature, individuals with this trait may be less likely to benefit from SCA despite their greater likelihood of using it. These users could be further unsettled by risk-averse triage and unlikely but serious diagnosis suggestions. Trial Registration: The study was registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS) DRKS00022465, DERR1-https://doi.org/10.2196/34026. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The rising life expectancy and advancements in health care have led to an upsurge in chronic diseases, highlighting the emergence of significant societal and public health challenges. Objectives. We aimed to examine the effects of the health anxiety of individuals with chronic diseases on their adjustment to their chronic diseases. Material and methods. This study was designed as observational, descriptive and cross-sectional. The population of the study consisted of individuals who had a chronic disease and were treated in a family medicine outpatient clinic for any reason between February and March 2022. The sampling method was determined to be probabilistic and sequential, and a total of 107 individuals aged 18 years and older who volunteered to participate in the study with these characteristics were included in the study. Data was collected using a questionnaire that included descriptive characteristics of the patients and researcher-generated information about the disease, as well as the Chronic Disease Adjustment Scale and the Health Anxiety Scale. Results. A statistically significant inverse relationship was found between patients' scores on the Health Anxiety Scale and scores on the Chronic Disease Adjustment Scale and the psychological and social adjustment subscales. Conclusions. With the interventions to be made on patients' health anxiety, it will be possible to adapt the patients to their chronic diseases so that regular drug use and social well-being will be possible for the patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Orthorexia nervosa is a recently conceptualised pathological entity presenting as an obsessive focus on healthy eating with associated psychosocial impairment. Aims: The present study investigated the differential associations between orthorexia nervosa and healthy orthorexia with distress and impairment. Materials & Methods: With a community sample (N = 268) multiple measures of orthorexia nervosa and health orthorexia were compared as explanatory variables in mediation structural equation modelling (SEM). Outcome variables assessed and investigated were psychological distress while demographic variables were controlled. The mediating roles of perfectionism and health anxiety on orthorexia nervosa were examined with further preventative mediation role of mindfulness on distress. Results: Distinctive to other eating disorders, gender showed no significant effects on orthorexia nervosa and healthy orthorexia. Signalling measurement issues for this disorder, the different measures of orthorexia nervosa resulted in mixed findings regarding body mass index and age. Findings supported perfectionism and health anxiety as risk factors, as well as mindfulness acceptance as a preventative factor in both orthorexia nervosa and healthy orthorexia. Orthorexia nervosa and healthy orthorexia assessed by most measures, contrary to the expectations, had significant positive associations with psychological distress indicated by stress, anxiety, and depression. Discussion & Conclusion: The complexity in differentiating orthorexia nervosa from healthy orthorexia calls for further investigation. This research effort should serve to substantiate the status of orthorexia nervosa as a distinct clinical disorder. Key points: Both orthorexia nervosa and healthy orthorexia had significant positive associations with psychological distress indicated by stress, anxiety, and depression.Perfectionism and health anxiety were risk factors while mindfulness acceptance was a preventative factor in both orthorexia nervosa and healthy orthorexia.The measurement and complexity in differentiating orthorexia nervosa from healthy orthorexia calls for further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most prevalent mental illnesses are anxiety disorders. Disturbances in emotion, thinking, behavior, and bodily functions are some of its symptoms. It encompasses obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobia, social phobia, acute stress disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The current study aims to provide light on the symptoms, etiology, pathophysiology, indicators, and treatments associated with anxiety. Anxiety is frequently accompanied by symptoms that interfere with sleep, focus, social and/or professional functioning. Anxiety is linked to restlessness, tenseness, or feeling on edge easily worn out, agitated, tense in the muscles, inability to focus or lose one's train of thought. Anxiety may have multiple etiologies, such as stress, physical health issues, genetics, and environmental influences. A disturbance in the central nervous system's regulation could be the cause of anxiety symptoms. Many people think that the development of it is caused by reduced serotonin system activity and high noradrenergic system activity. Consequently, the first-line treatment for it is a combination of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author examines factors that prevent the increase of health anxiety to a pathological level and the formation of hypochondriacal symptoms. The aim of the study is to fill the gap in the research of hypochondria in normal society and compensate the lack of attention to the subjective component of mental health, expanding the understanding of its content. 40 persons (aged 18 to 32) permanently residing in Moscow were involved, of whom 20 had high and 20 had moderate health anxiety. Short Health Anxiety Inventory, Psychological Well-Being Scales, Hardiness Survey, Purpose-in-Life (PIL) Test, Sh. Schwartz’s Portrait Value Questionnaire were used. Statistical data processing was carried out using the IBM SPSS Statistic 26 package; the results obtained in the groups were compared by the Mann - Whitney U test; and relationships between variables within groups were determined by Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. The results showed a significant decrease in the group of the respondents with hypochondriacal symptoms in the indicators of the scales of psychological well-being, hardiness and life-meaning orientations. The scales of psychological well-being, as well as the severity of all the components of hardiness, were significantly negatively associated with the degree of health anxiety. A significant inverse relationship was found between the Life Process (LP) scale and the severity of health anxiety. Among the respondents with hypochondriacal symptoms, at the level of guiding principles of life, the following multidirectional conflicting values dominate: safety, conformity and hedonism. At the level of individual lifestyle preferences and behavior, the values that conflict with normative ideals dominate, namely: kindness, universalism and independence. Thus, the absence of deep value conflicts, the consistency of value orientations, a high level of psychological well-being, hardiness and meaningfulness of life can be considered as protective factors that moderate anxiety, which, under the dominance of both medical and hypochondriacal discourse in culture, can prevent the formation of hypochondriacal disorders.

This article is devoted to the actual problems of psychosomatic medicine. Common myths are discussed, according to which only 7 psychosomatic diseases are known (restrictive interpretation), or alternatively, all human diseases are psychosomatic (expansive interpretation). The article presents a modern classification of psychosomatic disorders, information on predisposition to them, and highlights the main concepts of pathogenesis. Attention is devoted to the main forms of somatoform disorders, organic neuroses, nosogenic disorders, and the problem of hypochondria is illuminated. In this article attention is paid to the need for an integrated approach to the treatment of psychosomatic disorders, including the impact on both mental and somatic components. The requirements for the use of psychopharmacological drugs in psychosomatic medicine are given, emphasis is placed on the principle of «minimum sufficiency», which requires the use of minor doses of safe drugs that can cure the psychosomatic symptoms and are capable to treat the diagnosed mental disorders. The main non-drug methods aimed at correcting psychosomatic disorders are presented. The authors are convinced that in the field of psychosomatics the chances for successful diagnosis and therapy are given by the concept of «counter movement» – the interdisciplinary interaction of psychiatrists and internists, the essence of which is the urgent need for interdisciplinary cooperation of psychiatrists and internists, which increases the chances of successful assistance in such a complex and myth-rich field like psychosomatics.

This case report highlights the diagnostic challenges presented by the overlapping symptoms of illness anxiety disorder (IAD) and long COVID-19 (LC-19). This case report focuses on a 58-year-old woman with care-seeking type IAD in the context of LC-19-associated symptoms. The patient experienced mild COVID-19 in August 2021. Since then, she has reported an increase in LC-19-associated symptoms, including cognitive deficits, breathlessness, fatigue, and anosmia. Despite largely normal laboratory results, imaging, and physical examinations, the patient's distress and care-seeking behaviors persisted, resulting in the diagnosis of IAD. Accurately differentiating between LC-19 and IAD is crucial for appropriate patient care. We discuss the importance of recognizing and treating IAD in patients with LC-19-associated symptoms and the need for further research on the correlation between IAD and both COVID-19 and LC-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Illness anxiety may amplify vulnerability to psychopathological symptoms during the COVID‐19‐pandemic—perhaps especially at the beginning of the pandemic and during high infection waves, but empirical evidence on this is lacking. In addition, considering a potentially functional facet of it, illness anxiety might be associated with higher vaccine willingness. We analyzed data of a nine‐wave longitudinal online‐survey (March 2020–October 2021) with 8148 non‐probability sampled adults of the general population in Germany (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04331106). Using multilevel analysis, we investigated longitudinal associations of dimensionally assessed illness anxiety (worry about illness, bodily preoccupation) with mental strain and vaccine willingness and considered the dynamic of the pandemic (i.e., duration and infection rates). Higher worry about illness and bodily preoccupation were associated with higher COVID‐19‐related fears, unspecific anxiety, depressive symptoms, and vaccine willingness. Vaccine willingness increased over time and in parallel to higher infection rates. Symptoms of mental strain decreased with continuing duration of the pandemic but increased when infection rates inclined. This decrease and increase, respectively, was steeper in individuals with higher illness anxiety. Our findings suggest that individuals with higher illness anxiety are more vulnerable to experience psychopathological symptoms during the ongoing pandemic, particularly at its beginning and during times of high infection rates. Thus, illness anxiety and associated symptoms should be targeted by adaptive measures. The fluctuation of symptoms parallel to the pandemic situation implies that support should be particularly issued at the beginning of extraordinary situations as well as during phases of high infection rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Patients with severe health anxiety have complex interpersonal relationships with medical providers and others in their social context, often resulting in conflictual interactions with providers and perception of poor medical care. An adequate understanding of the causes and consequences of these interactions is lacking, particularly 1 informed by the experience of the patient. This study used qualitative methods to explore the development and maintenance of health anxiety from the perspective of patients with lived experience of coping with health anxiety and their interactions with the healthcare system. Method: We conducted qualitative interviews with 11 primary care patients purposely sampled to describe their experience living with health anxiety, provider interactions, and social and family interactions surrounding health and health anxiety. We extracted themes related to living with health anxiety and interactions with providers and other significant relationships. Results: Thematic content analysis revealed 5 themes including 3 causal themes, 1 response theme, and 1 theme reflecting factors that mitigate health anxiety. Causal themes included subthemes reflecting predisposing factors of the self, key stimulus events from patient learning history, and maladaptive social interaction factors. The response theme was comprised of 2 subthemes: logical conclusions and health anxiety symptoms. The mitigating factors theme included subthemes of a trusting care relationship and recognition of disconfirming evidence. Conclusion: The themes and constituent subthemes identified in this study largely map onto cognitive-behavioral theory of health anxiety, demonstrating alignment between patient experience and theory. The resulting model also identifies potential points of intervention in the developmental and maintenance process. We provide recommendations to maximize those points of intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Inhibitory learning applicable to exposure therapy of pathological health anxiety (HA) • Sig. reduction of HA during an inhibitory learning-based exposure intervention. • Reduction of HA sig. associated with increase of tolerance for aversive states. Exposure to illness-related stimuli is a crucial component of CBT for pathological health anxiety. Modern exposure approaches focus on forming inhibitory associations and provide promising results. An implementation in the treatment of pathological health anxiety is still missing. The present single case series study investigated the applicability and effects of an inhibitory learning-based exposure approach (12 sessions) on health anxiety, safety behavior, and tolerance for aversive states in n = 7 outpatients (age: M = 35.14, SD = 8.43) with a DSM-5 Illness Anxiety Disorder or Somatic Symptom Disorder with predominant health worries in multilevel models. A high intervention satisfaction and little adverse effects were reported. A significant(ly) (steepened) reduction of health anxiety (b = −0.10, p baseline <.001, p pre-intervention =.003), and body checking behavior (b = −0.14, p baseline/pre-intervention <.001), and a significant increase in distress tolerance (b = 0.07, p baseline =.02, p pre-intervention =.004), discomfort tolerance (b = 0.11, p baseline/pre-intervention <.001), and insecurity tolerance (b = 0.13, p baseline/pre-intervention <.001) were observed during the intervention in comparison to the baseline and pre-intervention phase. The present study provided first evidence that the principles of inhibitory learning can be effectively applied to the exposure-based treatment of pathological health anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Repetitive online searches for health information increase anxieties and result in Internet addiction. Internet addiction, cyberchondria, anxiety sensitivity, and hypochondria have been studied separately, but how these concepts are reciprocally linked has not been investigated. This study aimed to determine the levels, correlations, and predictors of Internet addiction, cyberchondria, anxiety sensitivity, and hypochondria among students based on the sample's characteristics. A sample of 143 university students participated in this cross-sectional online survey. A self-reported questionnaire was employed to collect data from students. The studied concepts had moderate to high correlations with each other and with the students' characteristics. Not getting infected with the coronavirus was among the demographic factors inserted into the regression model that only predicted cyberchondria. The model of cyberchondria was significant and explained 11.5% of the variance in the score of concepts. The results of the standard regression analysis indicated that the model predicting Internet addiction accounted for 41.2% of the variability. Our unique findings indicate that cyberchondria can contribute to developing Internet addiction compared to earlier studies. The findings suggest the importance of empowering students to overcome their anxieties by managing cyberchondria and Internet addiction. Mental health professionals, namely psychiatric nurses, are at the forefront of taking preventive mental health measures on campus, such as screening and referring students who exhibit these problems to psychological support and counseling to cope with their anxieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aimed to examine the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the Utrecht Grief Rumination Scale (UGRS) among healthcare workers who witnessed patient deaths. We also examined whether grief rumination may impact the cognitive‐behavioral model of hypochondriasis. Methods: This study was conducted via an anonymous online survey targeting healthcare workers who had worked at a tertiary hospital and had witnessed patient deaths over the previous 2 years. Demographic data and responses to the UGRS, the Pandemic Grief Scale (PGS) for healthcare workers, the Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemic‐9 (SAVE‐9), the Obsession with COVID‐19 Scale (OCS), and the Coronavirus Reassurance‐Seeking Behaviors Scale (CRBS) were collected by requesting participants to recall their emotional state during the 2 weeks after witnessing a patient's death. Results: The Korean version of the UGRS is reliable (Cronbach's alpha = 0.941) and valid (comparative fit index = 0.920, Tucker–Lewis index = 0.900, root‐mean‐square‐error of approximation = 0.102, standardized root‐mean‐square residual = 0.050) for measuring grief rumination in healthcare workers. The OCS was predicted by CRBS (β = 0.19, p < 0.001), SAVE‐9 (β = 0.45, p < 0.001), UGRS (β = 0.16, p = 0.010), and PGS (β = 0.16, p = 0.010, adjusted R2 = 0.49, F = 52.9, p < 0.001). In mediation analysis, grief rumination directly influenced coronavirus preoccupation; the relationship was mediated by viral anxiety and coronavirus reassurance‐seeking behavior. Conclusion: Grief rumination of healthcare workers who witnessed patient death requires further exploration as it may influence hypochondriacal responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background A widely held belief is that “Medical student syndrome” is frequently experienced by young medical students, that is, they experience the symptoms of the diseases they are studying or fear of having such illness. A hypothesis is that because medical students constantly learn about life-threatening conditions and diseases, they experience persistent fear and stress regarding having a severe medical condition, an anxiety-related illness called nosophobia. Results Although medical students scored an average of 14.14 on a scale measuring potential nosophobia a, the difference between their scores and those of non-medical students, who scored an average of 0.11, is significantly higher (p 0.001). According to the presented analysis, non-medical and medical students exhibit distinct levels of nosophobia. The analysis of responses to hypochondriacal behaviors revealed that students from non-medical faculties scored an average of 1.43 points. By contrast, the average score for medical students was 7.87, which is significantly higher than that of the non-medical students (p 0.001). Conclusions Medical students are at higher risk for health anxiety and hypochondrial attitudes than non-medical students are.

Background: Research on health anxiety has bloomed in recent years, but summaries of the literature are complicated by the use of dissimilar self-report questionnaires. Furthermore, these instruments have rarely been administered in parallel, and especially not in clinical samples. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between five widespread health anxiety measures, and to draft guidelines for the conversion of different sum scores. Methods: Clinical trial participants with principal pathological health anxiety (n = 335) and a sample of healthy volunteers (n = 88) completed the 14-item Whiteley Index (WI-14), the Illness Attitude Scale (IAS), and the 14-, 18-, and 64-item Health Anxiety Inventory (the HAI-64, HAI-18, and HAI-14). Cross-sectional data from all participants were pooled (N = 423) and we conducted a joint factor analysis and approximate equipercentile linking of the WI-14, IAS, HAI-64, HAI-18, and HAI-14. Results: Inter-scale correlations were high (rs ≥ 0.90 and ≥ 0.88 in adjusted analyses), and the scree plot of the joint factor analysis spoke for a unifactorial solution where 89/105 items (85%) had loadings ≥ 0.40. Most items at the core of this broad trait health anxiety factor pertained to the worry about health, the fear of having or developing a serious disease, and to some extent bodily preoccupation. We present a cross-walk table of observed equipercentile linked sum scores. Conclusions: This study speaks clearly in favor of the WI-14, IAS, HAI-64, HAI-18, and HAI-14 all tapping into the same trait health anxiety construct, the core of which appears to concern the worry about health, the fear of having or developing a serious disease, and to some extent bodily preoccupation. Based on recently reported cut-offs for the HAI-14, a reasonable cutoff for pathological health anxiety in a psychiatric setting probably lies around 7–8 on the WI-14, 52–53 on the IAS, 82–83 on the HAI-64, and 26–27 on the HAI-18. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01966705, NCT02314065. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the theoretical view of Terror Management Theory, the current research examines whether higher levels of death anxiety symptoms, in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak, increase the extent to which participants are exposed to information regarding the spread of the pandemic, as well as the fear of contagion and symptoms of hypochondriasis, which all in turn increase symptoms of adjustment disorder. A total number of 302 participants filled out self-report questionnaires regarding death anxiety, adjustment disorder, the extent of exposure to information regarding COVID-19, fear of contagion, hypochondriasis, and demographic information. Structural Equation Modeling analysis indicated a very good fit of the theoretical model with the data, confirming the mediation effect of exposure to information, fear of contagion, and symptoms of hypochondriasis on the association between death anxiety and adjustment disorder symptoms. Implications for practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore the correlation between cyberchondria levels, depression risk, and the quality of life among female students amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The research was conducted with 534 female students enrolled in a public university. Participants were asked to complete a Personal Information Form, Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and "Short Form-36 (SF-36)" questionnaire. The findings from the multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the level of cyberchondria increased the depression risk by 0.06 times among students. Additionally, nonsmokers were found to have a depression risk that was 4.06 times lower than smokers. A negative and weak correlation was observed between the total score of the CSS and the SF-36 survey. Based on the study's results, it can be concluded that the participants exhibited a moderate level of cyberchondria. Moreover, the study revealed a decreased quality of life and an increased risk of depression in participants as their level of cyberchondria increased. In order to mitigate the adverse impact of current and future health crises, it is imperative to prioritize organizing educational programs aimed at enhancing the e-health literacy level among female students, along with interventions to manage cyberchondria behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this investigation was to examine the efficacy of transdiagnostic therapy in alleviating psychological distress, stress coping strategies, and self-treatment among women. Methods: This study followed a semi-experimental design, focusing on practical applications, and employed a pre-test, post-test design with a control group for data collection. The sample size was determined to be 384 individuals using Morgan's formula, from which 30 married women were selected and divided into two groups of 15 for both the experimental and control groups. The research employed Chalder's fatigue questionnaire (1993), Andrew Parker's stress coping style questionnaire (1990), and Evans' self-diagnosis questionnaire (1980) as the data collection instruments. The intervention consisted of ten training sessions over two and a half months, with each session lasting 90 minutes and occurring once a week. Analysis of covariance was conducted using SPSS version 18 software to test the hypotheses. Results: The findings of the data analysis indicated that transdiagnostic therapy has a significant impact on mental fatigue among women. Furthermore, transdiagnostic treatment also influences women's stress coping style and self-diagnosis. Conclusions: The discoveries may yield practical implications that are beneficial to practitioners and scholars specializing in stress and anxiety within the field of therapy and psychology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Mountaineers, especially professional ones, are exposed to unusual environments that are not tolerable for most ordinary people. Some available studies suggest that mountaineers have different personality traits from ordinary people; however, there is not enough evidence to support this claim. This study aimed to investigate differences in the personality traits of mountaineers that may influence their decision-making in risky situations. Methods: In this study, a short form of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI, 71 questions) was used to assess the personality traits of 85 mountaineers who were members of mountaineering clubs. The eight dimensions of hypochondriasis (Hs), depression (D), hysteria (Hy), psychopathic deviate (Pd), paranoia (Pa), psychasthenia (Pt), schizophrenia (Sc), and hypomania (Ma) were compared with the results of 62 individuals in the control group. Independent t-test, Chi-square, and three-way ANOVA test were performed in SPSS version 21 for data analysis. Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of hypochondriasis, depression, hysteria, paranoia, and psychasthenia, whereas psychopathic deviate, schizophrenia, and hypomania were significantly higher in the mountaineer group compared to the control group. Despite these differences, the MMPI profile was normal for both the mountaineer and control groups. Conclusion: Although mountaineers had significantly different personality traits, they did not show any specific problems in the MMPI, which can potentially affect their decision-making in risky environments. The higher levels of hypomania in mountaineers can explain their participation in high-risk physical activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the far-reaching impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic is that it has become the fertile soil of cyberchondria. Adolescents' mental health was severely hit by this by-product of the COVID-19 pandemic both due to the direct effects and its indirect effects on security. This study investigated whether and how cyberchondria was associated with Chinese adolescents' mental health (i.e., well-being and depressive symptoms). Based on a large Internet sample (N = 1,108, 67.5 percent female, Mage = 16.78 years), cyberchondria, psychological insecurity, mental health, and a series of covariates were assessed. Preliminary analyses were conducted in SPSS Statistics software and main analyses were conducted in Mplus. Path analyses indicated that (a) cyberchondria was negatively associated with well-being (b = −0.12, p = 0.001) and positively associated with depressive symptoms (b = 0.17, p < 0.001); (b) psychological insecurity could fully mediate the association between cyberchondria and mental health (indirect effect well-being = −0.15, 95% confidence interval [CI −0.19 to −0.12] and indirect effect depressive symptoms = 0.15, 95% CI [0.12 to 0.19]); (c) the two dimensions (social insecurity and uncertainty) of psychological insecurity could play the mediating role in the associations between cyberchondria and mental health, uniquely and parallelly; and (d) these results did not vary by gender. This study suggests that cyberchondria may arouse individuals' psychological insecurity about interpersonal interaction and the development of events, which ultimately decreases their well-being and increases the risk of depressive symptoms. These findings facilitate the establishment and implementation of relevant prevention and intervention programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]