HYP'OCHONDRI'ASIS (Neo-Lat., from Lat. hypoehondrium, Gk. inroxavopcop, hypochondriac region; so called because of the supposed connec tion of the disease with this part of the body). A disease characterized by extreme increase of sensibility, palpitations, morbid feelings that simulate the greater part of diseases, exaggerated uneasiness, and anxiety. chiefly in what concerns the health, etc. In extreme cases it becomes a species of insanity. The disease is very fre quently associated with disorder of the digestive functions.
When sombreness of disposition and anxiety concerning personal comfort become exaggerated, and attention is directed chiefly to the state of the health, it amounts to common hypochon driasis. When it passes beyond the control of the will, when the whole mind is directed to the state of the system, or to particular organs, and exalts and misinterprets sensations, the condi tion is designated hypochondriacal insanity. The disease may be described as the engrossment of the attention by false impressions conveyed, or conceived to be conveyed, from internal organs. These sensations may, in ninny instances. be real, and proceed from actual alterations in the struc ture or functions of the parts supposed to be affected; but they may likewise consist of ordi nary sensations, excited and intensified by the act of attention which makes them known to the patient. Neither the experience nor the suffer
ings of the victims arc imaginary, however absurd their errors, and however groundless their apprehensions may be; the disease is real, and consists in the exaltation of sensibility and attention, and in the delusions which originate in that morbid state. A man lives in constant fear of death; he is firmly convinced that he lahors under cancer. consumption. disease of the heart, etc. Hypochondriasis is often a precursor of 'melancholia, or other kinds of alienation; hut it must likewise be regarded as a distinct and independent affection, traceable, generally. to disorder of the digestive and assimilative appa ratus, to sexual excess or other debilitating in fluences. Such patients always should be watched, for many of them commit suicide while temporarily under the influence of an hallucina tion or a delusion. Diversion. camp life, hunt ino, fishing. and other occupations should engross the patient's attention during an outdoor life, or travel should be his resource. always in the so ciety of a lively, healthy companion. Drugs alone produce little benefit. Consult: Poiret, De rhypnehondric et du suicide (Paris, 1822) ; Buck nill and Tuke, Psychological Medicine (London. 1879) : :Mercier, Psychology, Normal and Morbid ( London, 1902).