Mohd. Fazil, Mohd. Akram, Prem Kapoor

Journal: GLOBAL JOURNAL OF MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH

Year: 2013

ABSTRACT:

Background: Relatively little is known about the epidemiology of hypochondriasis, especially in Diabetes Mellitus Type-II (DM-II) patients, though hypochondriasis is considered to be of high relevance in the healthcare sector, especially in chronic diseases. The aims of this study were to study the prevalence of general hypochondriasis in DM-II patients and to explore some of the possible aggravating factors.

Methods: The data was collected by interview and observation method with Illness Behaviour Questionnaire and Temperament Assessment Format.

Results: Hypochondriasis was found to be most prevalent in subjects having Saudavi temperament (75.55%) followed by those having Balghami temperament (56.81%). The patients having elevated blood sugar and those on injectable hypoglycemics also demonstrated a higher prevalence of hypochondriasis.

Conclusion: The results indicate that hypochondriasis is quite prevalent in DM-II patients; and, in addition to the severity of disease, it may also be influenced by the medication and patient’s temperament.

Keywords:

Hypochondriasis, Temperament, Diabetes Mellitus-II, mizaj

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