1. What variations occur between people with this disease? How does a person develop hypochondriasis?
1.1. Huffington, Christina. "It Must Be Cancer: How I Came To Terms With My Hypochondria." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 02 Apr. 2013. Web. 05 May 2014. http://tinyurl.com/qcs26wo
1.1.1. ABCD: This is a personal story of Christina Huffington about her personal experience with hypochondriasis. It could be biased but it provides a different prospective. It was written on 04/02/13.
1.1.1.1. Notes: -put symptoms in the computer -once she read the symptoms on the computer she "physically" felt worse (just by reading the words "blood clot" she believed that it had to be true) -Worst possible ideas -anxious/panic attacks -dad scared children with warnings of germs
1.2. Pearlman, Jeff. "Hypochondria: The Impossible Illness." Psychology Today: Health, Help, Happiness + Find a Therapist. N.p., 01 Jan. 2010. Web. 04 May 2014. http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200912/hypochondria-the-impossible-illness
1.2.1. ABCD: This entry was written by Jeff Pearlman. It could be biased since he wrote it on his personal experience and feelings with this disease. It does answer what it is like to live with hypochondriasis. He wrote it on 01/01/13.
1.2.1.1. Notes: -had an ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, and a colonoscopy (all came up negative) -Doesn't believe doctors or family members -"a cut is never merely a cut, a cough is never merely a cough" -possibly brought on by stress or anxiety -1/20 Americans who visit the doctors suffer from this disease -"You know something is wrong because you believe what you're thinking, and what you're thinking is what you perceive to be feeling" -had a hypochondriac grandfather -treatment: cognitive therapy -facing fears head on... ex. if a person is convinced they had HIV they should go spend time with someone who actually does have HIV.... after awhile that fear stops meaning so much
1.2.1.1.1. Synthesis: Many hypochondriacs have had other hypochondriacs in their family. They see how their family member was reacting with the disease and they too became afraid of every little pain in their body. Another way this disease is brought on is when a person hears/learns a lot about one disease in-depth. They start believing that they too have the symptoms of that particular disease and it gets worse from there. Therapy for this disease includes sharing your thoughts and feelings to get them out in the open. The therapist will teach them how to focus on something other than the pain in their body and hopefully they will forget about having all these anxieties.
2. What research has been done to find out why people have hypochondria? (what have they found with this research)
2.1. Mitchell, Lisa. "The Great Pretenders." The Age [Melbourne] 03 Dec. 2004: n. pag. Academic Search Alumni Edition. Web. 5 May 2014 http://tinyurl.com/lnfge27
2.1.1. ABCD: The great pretenders By: Lisa Mitchell provides information about hypochondriasis and seems like a balanced article, not biased. Source seems credible and answers what information scientists have learned by researching about this disease. Article written on 12/03/04
2.1.1.1. Notes: -hypochondriacs use health resources at 10-13 times the cost of the average person -average hypochondriac asks 5 doctors for their opinion -a therapy technique, developed by 2 Australian doctors, was tested in a clinical trial.. 60% of hypochondriacs no longer had the criteria to be hypochondriacs -technique used attention training where they learn to shift their attention away from thinking of symptoms -now is called "health anxiety disorder" -could start by having poor emotional development at home -their families may have never had discussed emotions or conflict -symptoms of hypochondriasis (aches, pains, fatigue) hasn't changed over time... what has changed is the patients access to information (computers)
2.2. "Hypochondriasis." University of Maryland Medical Center. University of Maryland Medical Center, n.d. Web. 05 May 2014. http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/condition/hypochondriasis
2.2.1. ABCD: This article was written by the University of Maryland Medical center staff. This is not a biased source because it lists information and not opinions. It answers this question by showing how much researchers know about treating this disease. It was written on 12/08/12.
2.2.1.1. Notes: -75-85% of hypochondriacs also have anxiety, depression, or another mental disease -People who are most at risk to develop this: family history of hypochondriasis, recent stressful event (such as death of a loved one), serious childhood illness, mental disorders (anxiety, OCD, depression) -hypochondriacs (who also have anxiety or depression) may benefit from avoiding alcohol and caffeine
2.3. Starcevic, Vladan, and Don R. Lipsitt. Hypochondriasis: Modern Perspectives on an Ancient Malady. Oxford: Oxford Univ., 2001. Iowa State University. ExLibris Primo M1, 2009. Web. 6 May 2014. http://site.ebrary.com.proxy.lib.iastate.edu/lib/iowastate/docDetail.action?docID=10269059
2.3.1. ABCD: Vladan Starcevic and Don R Lipsitt wrote the book, Hypochondriasis. This book isn't biased because it talks about the research done on this diagnosis. It answers this question fully because it talks about researchers and all they have discovered with this disease. This book was published in 2001.
2.3.1.1. Notes: - -(didn't have the ISU codes at home) -
2.4. "B.U. Bridge: Boston University Community's Weekly Newspaper." B.U. Bridge: Boston University Community's Weekly Newspaper. Boston University, 04 Oct. 2002. Web. 05 May 2014. http://www.bu.edu/bridge/archive/2002/10-04/health.htm
2.4.1. ABCD: This article was written by the staff members of the Boston Medical Center. There aren't biased statements in here because it states facts rather than opinions. It answers what causes people to develop hypochondriasis. It was written on 10/04/02
2.4.1.1. Notes: -affects 4-9% of the population -somatoform disorder (has physical symptoms but no actual medical condition -every ache and pain in their body is amplified -anxiety/depression -can be start due to someone else's illness/death -could be caused by learning about a particular disease in-depth -Criteria to diagnose hypochondria -Preoccupation with fears of having a serious disease that persists despite medical evaluation -The believe in the disease is not delusional -The preoccupation causes problems with friends/family/work -Preoccupation with a disease lasts 6 months or longer -Hypochondriacs often medicate themselves with nonprescription drugs, take frequent trips to the doctor, and possibly experiment with unproven theories
2.4.1.1.1. Synthesis: Researchers have found that 4-9% of the population suffers from Hypochondriasis and a majority of those people also suffer from anxiety, depression, or another mental illness. Researchers have found that a person who suffers from hypochondriasis has a strong possibility of having a family history with this disease. In order to be diagnosed with Hypochondriasis, you have to have suffered from a "disease" for 6 months or longer. Researchers are beginning for call this disease "health anxiety disorder". Many researchers also believe that hypochondriasis starts in your home, possibly even at a young age. Kids can hear their parents talking about a person with cancer and you could believe that you too have the same symptoms as the person with cancer.
3. How drastic are the presumed diseases?
3.1. "Extreme Hypochondria." Interview by Christianne Klein. Good Morning America. ABC. 24 Feb. 2007. Television. http://tinyurl.com/q5ytxbq
3.1.1. ABCD: Christianne Klein interviews a man by the name of Sevan who suffers from Hypochondriasis. They are interviewing him to be more informed on Sevan's disease. This interview was conducted on 2/24/07. Could be bias since the information is based on one man's personal opinion and experiences.
3.1.1.1. Notes: - Started after his mom died of lung cancer - Was first always depressed, sleeping and tired -started complaining about symptoms that his mom suffered from -emailed his doctor several times a day -visited the ER four times in two days -diagnosed after 2 1/2 months -spent hours online every day (self-diagnosing/looking up symptoms and finding new illnesses) - "cyber chondria"
3.1.1.1.1. Synthesis: Many hypochondriacs believe they are suffering from an illness that will inevitably kill them. Many common thoughts by a hypochondriac is that they have some form of Cancer. It starts out by having a small pain somewhere and if they get on the internet to look up their symptoms, a small pain can escalate into a life-threatening cancer. As our age becomes more technology based, hypochondriacs are able to look up their presumed symptoms easier. Each person is different so the "seriousness" of the presumed disease can vary from person to person.
3.2. Vardigan, Benj. "Hypochondria." Hypochondria. LimeHealth, 11 Mar. 2014. Web. 05 May 2014. http://tinyurl.com/o2g4drc
3.2.1. ABCD: This article was written by Benj Vardigan but there is also a personal story of women who suffers from hypochondriasis. I don't think this source is biased because after the personal story, it shares facts not opinions. It covers facts that answer some of the questions I had asked. It was written on 03/11/14
3.2.1.1. Notes: -family was talking about a man who had died from hardening of the arteries (she thought she had all the same symptoms as the man) -She was only 4 years old at the time -"The fear of illness is the illness itself" -hypochondriasis wasn't acknowledged as a disease/mental disorder until 1980 -Ex. if a person has a headache they aren't concerned on how to treat it directly, they are worried about what the headache suggests- possible brain tumor -they usually fear the "gravest" of illnesses -frequent targets: brain tumor, Lou Gehrig's disease, multiple sclerosis (due to vague, common symptoms) - for her just seeing the C word (Cancer) would make her think she had it -seeing an ad for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month set her off -79% of Internet users (about 95 million Americans) have researched health information online -had an oltrasound-tech said she was just fine- she thought "you are too young to know that"- waited around for days waiting for them to call her and say they had made a mistake -major help: Prozac and hypochondria support board -she believes talking to others with the same disease is crucial so you know you aren't alone -keeps herself busy (such as exercising) to keep her mind off of thinking of symptoms