s1artibartfast 9 hours ago

Did anyone think it was otherwise? The article seems to be an interesting review, but never really substantiates the titular implication.

The URL and header reads as the much more apt "why-hypochondria-can-be-deadly-and-how-newer-treatments-help".

I suppose some hype-mognering editor got their hands on it and revised it to "Hypochondria Is a Real and Dangerous Illness, New Research Shows".

The closest the article gets to this topic is the following lines, which seems to undercut the claim, rather than support it.

>Despite the pain and anguish it causes, “for centuries, hypochondria was deemed a fashionable, even a desirable disorder,” perhaps as a sign of an intellectual, thoughtful disposition, according to hypochondria reference material from the Wellcome Collection....Some of the most revered minds have claimed to have the disorder, complete with mournful descriptions.

Anyways, it is still a fascinating review and seems to confirm my anecdotal experience, which is that hypochondria is a neurotic control issue stemming from underlying anxiety and depression. It is essentially the human mind seeking a post-hoc danger to explain a pre-existing sense of fear or despondency. If you fix the anxiety and depression, the hypochondria resolves itself.

Also in my opinion, anxiety and depression arise as a cognitive distraction to avoid confronting a real underlying issue, which is painful or difficult to process.