Hypochondriasis and obsessive compulsive disorder: overlaps in diagnosis and treatment.

BACKGROUND: Hypochondriasis is a disorder for which there are no established effective treatments. Hypochondriacs, in their obsessions about illness, compulsions to check with others, and failure to be reassured, share many features in common with those who have obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

METHOD: The authors present a case series of six patients with DSM-III-R hypochondriasis, five of whom also had a history of OCD. Two of the six agreed to be treated with doses of fluoxetine typically used to treat OCD.

RESULTS: Both patients, one of whom had no past history of OCD, showed a marked improvement in hypochondriacal symptoms.

CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that a subgroup of patients with hypochondriasis may be particularly responsive to serotonin reuptake blockers.