Is it All Just in My Head? Understanding and Treating Health Anxiety and Hypochondriasis

Health anxiety involves persistent anxiety about one's health along with beliefs one has an illness or may contract a disease. In diagnostic terms, extreme forms of health anxiety are categorized as hypochondriasis. With an estimated 1% to 11% of Canadian adults reporting problematic levels of health anxiety at some point in their lives, health anxiety is a major public health concern. The objectives of the proposed Cafe Scientifique are: to increase awareness of and promote dialogue on the definition, prevalence, and costs of health anxiety and hypochondriasis; to share and discuss recent scientific information on the causes of and the treatments for health anxiety and hypochondriasis; and to demystify and destigmatize health anxiety and hypochondriasis by engaging in a open dialogue on these topics with members of the general public.