Hypochondriasis, somatization, and perceived health and utilization of health care services

The authors determined the different effects of hypochondriasis and somatiz ation on health perceptions, health status, and service utilization in a pr imary care population. The subjects,vith hypochondriacal responses (HR) on the Illness Attitudes Scales or high somatic concern (HSC) on the Symptom Q uestionnaire had a worse perception of health and variably used more health services than the control subjects, even though the HR and HSC subjects ha d the same level of chronic medical disorders. Regression analyses determin ed that somatization contributed more to negative health perception and ser vice utilization than did hypochondriasis, although an interaction between the two contributed to the use of psychiatric care. The authors discuss the boundary between hypochondriasis and somatization for its implications for research and clinical practice.