Hypochondriasis and Body Dysmorphic Disorder Introduction

Hypochondriasis has played a colorful role in medical history, dating back more than 2,000 years, when the term was applied to almost any unexplainable illness localized in the region under (hypo) the ribs (chondro). Attempts to define and classify hypochondriacal states have been in a constant process of evolution, with considerable controversy still enshrouding the term. As intriguing as the history of hypochondriasis is, this chapter focuses principally on the therapeutics of hypochondriasis and the related condition of body dysmorphic disorder.