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There is evidence from the literature of phenomenological overlap between hypochondriasis and several anxiety disorders، نويسنده , , including specific phobia، نويسنده , , panic disorder with agoraphobia، نويسنده , , generalized anxiety disorder، نويسنده , , and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Even though the boundaries of these disorders are specifically addressed in the DSM-IV criteria، نويسنده , , there is evidence of anxiety and phobic symptoms among hypochondriacal patients and hypochondriacal concerns among patients with these various anxiety disorders. Beyond that there appears to be considerable shared comorbidity. However، نويسنده , , the data remain limited and few direct comparisons have been made between hypochondriacal and anxious patients belonging to particular diagnostic categories. Subtypes of hypochondriasis may exist. In fact، نويسنده , , the clearest link would seem to be between the illness phobia subtype and other phobic disorders، نويسنده , , although this subgroup has had little study. Thus، نويسنده , , hypochondriasis is distinct from the anxiety disorders but، نويسنده , , because of phenomenological similarities and extensive comorbidity، نويسنده , , consideration should be given to classifying it among them.، نويسنده ,
