DSM-5 bids farewell to hypochondriasis and welcomes somatic symptom disorder and illness anxiety disorder

The diagnosis of hypochondriasis is rarely used by psychiatrists and the nature of the condition precludes its use by most sufferers, while terms like ‘health anxiety’ have become increasingly popular. Despite their limitations, the new diagnoses (somatic symptom disorder and illness anxiety disorder) that replace hypochondriasis in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) represent a welcome attempt to improve the diagnostic conceptualisation of a disorder that has outgrown its ancient origins in the ‘hypochondrium’.