Health anxiety and illness worry

مِن شَرِّ ٱلۡوَسۡوَاسِ ٱلۡخَنَّاسِ

against the harm of the slinking whisperer––

لَّيۡسَ عَلَى ٱلضُّعَفَآءِ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلۡمَرۡضَىٰ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ مَا يُنفِقُونَ حَرَجٌ إِذَا نَصَحُواْ لِلَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦۚ مَا عَلَى ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ مِن سَبِيلࣲۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورࣱ رَّحِيمࣱ‏

but there is no blame attached to the weak, the sick, and those who have no means to spend, provided they are true to God and His Messenger- there is no reason to reproach those who do good: God is most forgiving and merciful

وَلۡيَسۡتَعۡفِفِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ نِكَاحًا حَتَّىٰ يُغۡنِيَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضۡلِهِۦۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَبۡتَغُونَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ مِمَّا مَلَكَتۡ أَيۡمَٰنُكُمۡ فَكَاتِبُوهُمۡ إِنۡ عَلِمۡتُمۡ فِيهِمۡ خَيۡرࣰ اۖ وَءَاتُوهُم مِّن مَّالِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِيٓ ءَاتَىٰكُمۡۚ وَلَا تُكۡرِهُواْ فَتَيَٰتِكُمۡ عَلَى ٱلۡبِغَآءِ إِنۡ أَرَدۡنَ تَحَصُّنࣰ ا لِّتَبۡتَغُواْ عَرَضَ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَاۚ وَمَن يُكۡرِههُّنَّ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ إِكۡرَٰهِهِنَّ غَفُورࣱ رَّحِيمࣱ‏

Those who are unable to marry should keep chaste until God gives them enough out of His bounty. If any of your slaves wish to pay for their freedom, make a contract with them accordingly, if you know they have good in them, and give them some of the wealth God has given you. Do not force your slave-girls into prostitution, when they themselves wish to remain honourable, in your quest for the short-term gains of this world, although, if they are forced, God will be forgiving and merciful to them

وَلِكُلࣲّ جَعَلۡنَا مَوَٰلِيَ مِمَّا تَرَكَ ٱلۡوَٰلِدَانِ وَٱلۡأَقۡرَبُونَۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ عَقَدَتۡ أَيۡمَٰنُكُمۡ فَـَٔاتُوهُمۡ نَصِيبَهُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءࣲ شَهِيدًا

We have appointed heirs for everything that parents and close relatives leave behind, including those to whom you have pledged your hands [in marriage], so give them their share: God is witness to everything

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِذَا جَآءَكُمُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَٰتُ مُهَٰجِرَٰتࣲ فَٱمۡتَحِنُوهُنَّۖ ٱللَّهُ أَعۡلَمُ بِإِيمَٰنِهِنَّۖ فَإِنۡ عَلِمۡتُمُوهُنَّ مُؤۡمِنَٰتࣲ فَلَا تَرۡجِعُوهُنَّ إِلَى ٱلۡكُفَّارِۖ لَا هُنَّ حِلࣱّ لَّهُمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ يَحِلُّونَ لَهُنَّۖ وَءَاتُوهُم مَّآ أَنفَقُواْۚ وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ أَن تَنكِحُوهُنَّ إِذَآ ءَاتَيۡتُمُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّۚ وَلَا تُمۡسِكُواْ بِعِصَمِ ٱلۡكَوَافِرِ وَسۡـَٔلُواْ مَآ أَنفَقۡتُمۡ وَلۡيَسۡـَٔلُواْ مَآ أَنفَقُواْۚ ذَٰلِكُمۡ حُكۡمُ ٱللَّهِ يَحۡكُمُ بَيۡنَكُمۡۖ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمࣱ‏

You who believe, test the believing women when they come to you as emigrants- God knows best about their faith- and if you are sure of their belief, do not send them back to the disbelievers: they are not lawful wives for them, nor are the disbelievers their lawful husbands. Give the disbelievers whatever bride-gifts they have paid- if you choose to marry them, there is no blame on you once you have paid their bride-gifts- and do not yourselves hold on to marriage ties with disbelieving women. Ask for repayment of the bride-gifts you have paid, and let the disbelievers do the same. This is God’s judgement: He judges between you, God is all knowing and wise

فَإِذَا جَآءَتۡهُمُ ٱلۡحَسَنَةُ قَالُواْ لَنَا هَٰذِهِۦۖ وَإِن تُصِبۡهُمۡ سَيِّئَةࣱ يَطَّيَّرُواْ بِمُوسَىٰ وَمَن مَّعَهُۥٓۗ أَلَآ إِنَّمَا طَٰٓئِرُهُمۡ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَهُمۡ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ

then, when something good came their way, they said, ‘This is our due!’. When something bad came, they ascribed it to the evil omen of Moses and those with him, but their ‘evil omen’ was really from God, though most of them did not realize it

(And such of your slaves as seek a writing (of emancipation), write it for them�) [24:33]. This verse was revealed about a slave of Huwaytib ibn �Abd al-�Uzza who was called Subayh. The latter asked his master for a writing of emancipation but he refused. When Allah, exalted is He, revealed this verse, Huwaytib agreed to write a letter of emancipation in exchange for a hundred pieces of gold. Out of this sum, he offered him twenty pieces of gold which he paid. But he was killed in war at the Battle of Hunayn. (Force not your slave-girls to whoredom that ye may seek enjoyment of the life of the world, if they would preserve their chastity) [24:33]. Ahmad ibn al-Hasan al-Qadi informed us> the chamberlain of Ahmad al-Tusi> Muhammad ibn Hamdan> Abu Mu�awiyah> al-A�mash> Abu Sufyan> Jabir who said: ��Abd Allah ibn Ubayy used to say to a slave-girl of his: �Go and earn something for us from wh

(And unto each We have appointed heirs and near kindred �) [4:33]. Abu �Abd Allah Muhammad ibn �Abd Allah al-Farisi informed us> Muhammad ibn �Abd Allah ibn Hamawayh al-Harawi> �Ali ibn Muhammad al-Khuza�i> Abu�l-Yaman al-Hakam ibn Nafi�> Shu�ayb ibn Abi Hamzah> al-Zuhri> Sa�id ibn al-Musayyab who said: �The verse (And unto each We have appointed heirs) was revealed about those who used to adopt men who were not their natural sons and then make them inherit from them. Allah, exalted is He, revealed about them that something should be apportioned for them in the bequest while the division of estate He specifically allocated for the heirs who were immediate family relatives or close relatives. He denied a share of the estate to those who were adopted and, instead, allowed them to have a portion of the bequest�.

(O ye who believe! When believing women come unto you as fugitives, examine them. Allah is Best Aware of their faith�) [60:10]. Ibn �Abbas said: �On the year of Hudaybiyyah, the idolaters of Mecca signed a peace treaty with the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace. This treaty stipulated that whoever of the people of Mecca runs away to him from them should be returned to them, and whoever of his Companions runs away to the people of Mecca will not be returned. They wrote the treaty and sealed it. Just after signing the treaty, Subay�ah bint al-Harith al-Aslamiyyah went to the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, while he was still at al-Hudaybiyyah. Her husband, who was an unbeliever came and said: �O Muhammad, return my wife to me, for you had agreed to return to us whoever runs away to you. The ink of the treaty has not dried yet�. Allah, exalted is He, then r

from the evil of the slinking whisperer Satan — he is referred to by the name of the action waswasa on account of his repeated engaging in it — who slinks away and recoils from the heart whenever God is mentioned

As for the weak such as the old and the sick the blind and the chronically ill and those who find nothing to expend for the struggle no blame no sin falls upon them should they stay away from it if they remain true to God and to His Messenger when they stay behind by not spreading false rumours or impeding others from joining the struggle but by adhering to obedience. There is no way of blame no way of reproach against those who are virtuous through such behaviour. And God is Forgiving Merciful to them by granting them such leeway in this matter.

There is no blame on those who are weak or ill or who find no resources to spend, if they are sincere and true (in duty) to Allah and His Messenger. No means (of complaint) can there be against the doers of good. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful (91)Nor (is there blame) on those who came to you to be provided with mounts, when you said: "I can find no mounts for you," they turned back, with their eyes overflowing with tears of grief that they could not find anything to spend (92)The means (of complaint) is only against those who are rich, and yet ask exemption. They are content to be with (the women) who sit behind (at home) and Allah has sealed up their hearts so that they know not (what they are losing)(93) Legitimate Excuses for staying away from Jihad Allah mentions here the valid excuses that permit one to stay away from fighting. He first mentions the excuses that remain

حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ بْنُ عَمْرٍو، حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ حَلْحَلَةَ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ مَا يُصِيبُ الْمُسْلِمَ مِنْ نَصَبٍ وَلاَ وَصَبٍ وَلاَ هَمٍّ وَلاَ حُزْنٍ وَلاَ أَذًى وَلاَ غَمٍّ حَتَّى الشَّوْكَةِ يُشَاكُهَا، إِلاَّ كَفَّرَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِنْ خَطَايَاهُ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri and Abu Huraira:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that

حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ الْمُنْذِرِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ فُلَيْحٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ هِلاَلِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ، مِنْ بَنِي عَامِرِ بْنِ لُؤَىٍّ عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ مَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِ كَمَثَلِ الْخَامَةِ مِنَ الزَّرْعِ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَتَتْهَا الرِّيحُ كَفَأَتْهَا، فَإِذَا اعْتَدَلَتْ تَكَفَّأُ بِالْبَلاَءِ، وَالْفَاجِرُ كَالأَرْزَةِ صَمَّاءَ مُعْتَدِلَةً حَتَّى يَقْصِمَهَا اللَّهُ إِذَا شَاءَ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated Abu Huraira:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "The example of a believer is that of a fresh tender plant; from whatever direction the wind comes, it bends it, but when the wind becomes quiet, it becomes straight again. Similarly, a believer is afflicted with calamities (but he remains patient till Allah removes his difficulties.) And an impious wicked person is like a pine tree which keeps hard and straight till Allah cuts (breaks) it down when He wishes." (See Hadith No. 558, Vol)

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، قال حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْفَرْوِيُّ، قال حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، عَنْ عُمَارَةَ بْنِ غَزِيَّةَ، عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ عُمَرَ بْنِ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ مَحْمُودِ بْنِ لَبِيدٍ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ إِذَا أَحَبَّ اللَّهُ عَبْدًا حَمَاهُ الدُّنْيَا كَمَا يَظَلُّ أَحَدُكُمْ يَحْمِي سَقِيمَهُ الْمَاءَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ صُهَيْبٍ وَأُمِّ الْمُنْذِرِ ‏.‏ وَهَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ ‏.‏ وَقَدْ رُوِيَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ عَنْ مَحْمُودِ بْنِ لَبِيدٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مُرْسَلاً ‏.‏ حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، قال أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ أَبِي عَمْرٍو، عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ عُمَرَ بْنِ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ مَحْمُودِ بْنِ لَبِيدٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَحْوَهُ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ فِيهِ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى وَقَتَادَةُ بْنُ النُّعْمَانِ الظَّفَرِيُّ هُوَ أَخُو أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ لأُمِّهِ وَمَحْمُودُ بْنُ لَبِيدٍ قَدْ أَدْرَكَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَرَآهُ وَهُوَ غُلاَمٌ صَغِيرٌ ‏.‏

Qatadah bin An-Nu'man narrated that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said:"When Allah loves a slave, He prevents him from the world, just as one of you prevents his sick from water." Another chain reports a similar narration

حَدَّثَنَا عَبَّاسُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الدُّورِيُّ، قال حَدَّثَنَا يُونُسُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، قال حَدَّثَنَا فُلَيْحُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ التَّيْمِيِّ، عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ أَبِي يَعْقُوبَ، عَنْ أُمِّ الْمُنْذِرِ، قَالَتْ دَخَلَ عَلَىَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَمَعَهُ عَلِيٌّ وَلَنَا دَوَالٍ مُعَلَّقَةٌ قَالَتْ فَجَعَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَأْكُلُ وَعَلِيٌّ مَعَهُ يَأْكُلُ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِعَلِيٍّ ‏"‏ مَهْ مَهْ يَا عَلِيُّ فَإِنَّكَ نَاقِهٌ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَجَلَسَ عَلِيٌّ وَالنَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَأْكُلُ ‏.‏ قَالَتْ فَجَعَلْتُ لَهُمْ سِلْقًا وَشَعِيرًا فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ يَا عَلِيُّ مِنْ هَذَا فَأَصِبْ فَإِنَّهُ أَوْفَقُ لَكَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ لاَ نَعْرِفُهُ إِلاَّ مِنْ حَدِيثِ فُلَيْحٍ ‏.‏ وَيُرْوَى عَنْ فُلَيْحٍ عَنْ أَيُّوبَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ ‏.‏ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، قال حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَامِرٍ، وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا فُلَيْحُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ، عَنْ أُمِّ الْمُنْذِرِ الأَنْصَارِيَّةِ، فِي حَدِيثِهِ قَالَتْ دَخَلَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَ نَحْوَ حَدِيثِ يُونُسَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ إِلاَّ أَنَّهُ قَالَ ‏"‏ أَنْفَعُ لَكَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَقَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ وَحَدَّثَنِيهِ أَيُّوبُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ ‏.‏ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ جَيِّدٌ غَرِيبٌ ‏.‏

Umm Al-Mundhir said:"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) entered upon me, while `Ali was with him, and we had a cluster of unripe dates hanging." She said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) began eating, and `Ali ate with him. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to `Ali: 'Stop, stop, for you are still recovering.' So `Ali sat and the Prophet (ﷺ) ate." She said: "I made some chard and barley for them, so the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'O `Ali eat from this, for indeed it will be more suitable for you." Another chain reports a similar narration

أما ما ذكرتم من أن النبي كان يعجبه الفأل الحسن فلا ريب في ثبوت ذلك عنه وقد قرن ذلك بإبطال الطيرة كما في الصحيحين من حديث الزهري عن عبيد بن عبدالله عن أبى هريرة رضى الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى عليه وسلم لاطيرة وخيرها الفأل قالوا وما الفأل يا رسول الله قال الكلمة الصالحة يسمعها أحدكم فابتدأهم النبي بإزالة الشبهة وأبطال الطيرة لئلا يتوهموها عليه في إعجابه بالفأل الصالح وليس في الإعجاب بالفأل ومحبته شىء من الشرك بل ذلك إبانة عن مقتضى الطبيعة وموجب الفطرة الإنسانية التي تميل إلى مايلائمها ويوافقها مما ينفعها كما أخبرهم أنه حبب إليه من الدنيا النساء والطيب 00

وقد قال رسول الله إذا كان بالبلد الذي أنتم فيه فلا تخرجوا منه وقال إن كان ببلد فلا تدخلوه يريد بقوله لا تخرجوا من البلد أذا كان فيه كأنكم تظنون أن الفرار من قدر الله ينجيكم من الله ويريد إن كان ببلد فلا تدخلوه فإن مقامكم في الموضع الذي لا طاعون فيه أسكن لأنفسكم وأطيب لمعيشتكم ومن ذلك المرأة تعرف بالشؤم والدار فينال الرجل مكروه أو جائحة فيقول أعدتني بشؤمها فهذا هو العدوى الذي قال فيه رسول الله لا عدوى فأما الحديث الذي رواه أبو هريرة رضى الله عنه أنه قال الشؤم في المرأة والدار والدابة فإن هذا الحديث يتوهم فيه الغلط على أبى هريرة وأنه سمع فيه شيئا من رسول الله فلم يعه حدثني محمد بن القطعي حدثنا عبد الأعلى عن سعيد عن قتادة عن أبى حسان الأعرج أن رجلين دخلا على عائشة فقالا إن أبا هريرة رضى الله عنه يحدث عن رسول الله أنه قال إنما الطيرة في المرأة والدار والدابة فطارت شفقا ثم قالت كذب والذي أنزل الفرقان على أبى القاسم من حدث بهذا عن رسول الله إنما قال رسول الله كان أهل الجاهلية يقولون إن الطيرة

وقالت طائفة أخرى معنى الحديث إخباره عن الأسباب المثيرة للطيرة الكامنة في الغرائز يعنى أن المثير للطيرة في غرائز الناس هي هذه الثلاثة فأخبرنا بهذا لنأخذ الحذر منها فقال الشؤم في الدار والمرأة والفرس أي أن الحوادث التي تكثر مع هذه الأشياء والمصائب التي تتوالى عندها تدعو الناس إلى التشاؤم بها فقال الشؤم فيها أي أن الله قد يقدره فيها على قوم دون قوم فخاطبهم بذلك لما استقر عندهم منه من إبطال الطيرة وإنكار العدوى ولذلك لم يستفهموا في ذلك عن معنى ما أراده كما تقدم لهم في قوله لا يورد الممرض على المصح فقالوا عنده وما ذاك يا رسول الله فأخبرهم أنه خاف في ذلك الأذى الذي يدخله الممرض على المصح لا العدوى لأنه أمر بالتوادد وإدخال السرور بين المؤمنين وحسن التجاوز ونهى عن التقاطع والتباغض والأذى فمن اعتقد أن رسول الله نسب الطيرة والشؤم إلى شيء من الأشياء على سبيل إنه مؤثر بذلك دون الله فقد أعظم الفرية على الله وعلى رسوله وضل ضلالا بعيدا والنبي ابتداهم بنفي الطيرة والعدوى ثم قال الشؤم في ثلاث قطعا لتوهم

واقد بن عبد الله الحضري والحضرمي حضرت الحرب فكذب عليه وإنما قال ذلك أعداؤه من اليهود فتطيروا بذلك وتفاءلوا به فكانت الطيرة عليهم و وقدت الحرب عليهم

| الفصل الثامن والخمسون في الفأل والطيرة

فإن قلت : فلم نهى عن الخروج من البلد الذي فيه الوباء وسبب الوباء في الطب الهواء وأظهر طرق التداوي الفرار من المضر والهواء هو المضر وترك التوكل في أمثال هذا مباح وهذا لا يدل على المقصود ولكن الذي ينقدح فيه والعلم عند الله تعالى أن الهواء لا يضر من حيث إنه يلاقى ظاهر البدن بل من حيث دوام الاستنشاق له فانه اذا كان فيه عفونة ووصل إلى الرئة والقلب وباطن الأحشاء أثر فيها بطول الاستنشاق فلا يظهر الوباء على الظاهر إلا بعد طول التأثير في الباطن فالخروج من البلد لا يخلص غالبا من الأثر الذي استحكم من قبل ولكن يتوهم الخلاص فيصير هذا من جنس الموهومات كالرقي والطيرة وغيرهما ولو تجرد هذا المعنى لكان مناقضا للتوكل ولم يكن منهيا عنه ولكن صار منهيا عنه لانه انضاف اليه أمر آخر وهو أنه لو رخص للأصحاء في الخروج لما بقي في البلد إلا المرضى الذين أقعدهم الطاعون فانكسرت قلوبهم وفقدوا المتعهدين ولم يبق في البلد من يسقيهم الماء ويطعمهم الطعام وهم يعجزون عن مباشرتهما بأنفسهم فيكون ذلك سعيا في اهلاكهم تحقيقا وخلاصه

Exposure-based cognitive-behavioural therapy via the internet and as bibliotherapy for somatic symptom disorder and illness anxiety disorder: randomised controlled trial.: Background: In DSM-5 two new diagnoses, somatic symptom disorder (SSD) and illness anxiety disorder (IAD), have replaced DSM-IV hypochondriasis. There are no previous treatment studies for these disorders. Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) delivered as therapist-guided or unguided internet treatment or as unguided bibliotherapy could be used to increase treatment accessibility. Aims: To investigate the effect of CBT delivered as guided internet treatment (ICBT), unguided internet treatment (U-

Interoceptive accuracy and bias in somatic symptom disorder, illness anxiety disorder, and functional syndromes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.: Somatic symptom disorder, illness anxiety disorder, and functional syndromes are characterized by burdensome preoccupation with somatic symptoms. Etiological models propose either increased interoceptive accuracy through hypervigilance to the body, or decreased and biased interoception through top-down predictions about sensory events. This systematic review and meta-analysis summarizes findings of 68 studies examining interoceptive accuracy and 8 studies examining response biases in clinical or

A randomized trial of treatments for high-utilizing somatizing patients.: Background: Somatization and hypochondriacal health anxiety are common sources of distress, impairment, and costly medical utilization in primary care practice. A range of interventions is needed to improve the care of these patients. Objective: To determine the effectiveness of two cognitive behavioral interventions for high-utilizing, somatizing patients, using the resources found in a routine care setting. Design: Patients were randomly assigned to a two-step cognitive behavioral treatment pr

Cognitive and perceptual variables in hypochondriasis and health anxiety: a systematic review.: This review examined (a) whether hypochondriacal/health-anxious individuals hold distinct assumptions about health and illness, (b) if triggering these assumptions leads to increased hypochondriacal concerns, and (c) whether these individuals perceive their bodily sensations differently from others (i.e., experience greater somatosensory amplification). There was clear evidence that health anxiety is related dysfunctional health-related beliefs. Few studies have examined how hypochondriacal conc

Medically unexplained symptoms, somatisation disorder and hypochondriasis: course and prognosis. A systematic review.: Objective: To study the course of medically unexplained symptoms (MUS), somatisation disorder, and hypochondriasis, and related prognostic factors. Knowledge of prognostic factors in patients presenting persistent MUS might improve our understanding of the naturalistic course and the identification of patients with a high risk of a chronic course. Methods: A comprehensive search of Medline, PsycInfo, CINAHL, and EMBASE was performed to select studies focusing on patients with MUS, somatisation d

Mechanistic studies in pathological health anxiety: A systematic review and emerging conceptual framework.: Background: Pathological health anxiety (PHA) (e.g., hypochondriasis and illness anxiety disorder) is common in medical settings and associated with increased healthcare costs. However, the psychological and neurobiological mechanisms contributing to the development and maintenance of PHA are incompletely understood. Methods: We performed a systematic review to characterize the mechanistic understanding of PHA. PubMed, PsycINFO, and Embase databases were searched to find articles published betwe

Implicit affective evaluation bias in hypochondriasis: findings from the Affect Misattribution Procedure.

Cognitive theories of hypochondriasis (HYP) suggest that catastrophic misinterpretations of benign body sensations are a core feature for the maintenance of the disorder. There is tentative support from an analog sample that the interpretation of illness-related information also involves an implicit affective component. This is the first study to examine this negative affective evaluation bias implicitly in patients with HYP. An adapted version of the Affect Misattribution Procedure (AMP) with illness, symptom and neutral primes was used in 80 patients with HYP, and compared to 83 patients with an anxiety disorder (AD), as well as 90 healthy controls (CG). The HYP group showed significantly more negative affective reactions in illness prime trials, compared to both control groups, as well as more negative implicit evaluations on symptom prime trials, compared to the CG. Significant inver…

matched on Hypochondriasis (mesh), health anxiety (text)

Internet-delivered exposure-based cognitive-behavioural therapy and behavioural stress management for severe health anxiety: randomised controlled trial.

Background: Exposure-based cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) delivered via the internet has been shown to be effective for severe health anxiety (hypochondriasis) but has not been compared with an active, effective and credible psychological treatment, such as behavioural stress management (BSM). Aims: To investigate two internet-delivered treatments - exposure-based CBT v. BSM - for severe health anxiety in a randomised controlled trial (trial registration: NCT01673035). Method: Participants (n = 158) with a principal diagnosis of severe health anxiety were allocated to 12 weeks of exposure-based CBT (n = 79) or BSM (n = 79) delivered via the internet. The Health Anxiety Inventory (HAI) was the primary outcome. Results: Internet-delivered exposure-based CBT led to a significantly greater improvement on the HAI compared with BSM. However, both treatment groups made large improvements o…

matched on Hypochondriasis (mesh), health anxiety (text)

A randomized clinical trial of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy versus unrestricted services for health anxiety (hypochondriasis).

Objective: The efficacy and acceptability of existing psychological interventions for health anxiety (hypochondriasis) are limited. In the current study, the authors aimed to assess the impact of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) on health anxiety by comparing the impact of MBCT in addition to usual services (unrestricted services) with unrestricted services (US) alone. Method: The 74 participants were randomized to either MBCT in addition to US (n = 36) or US alone (n = 38). Participants were assessed prior to intervention (MBCT or US), immediately following the intervention, and 1 year postintervention. In addition to independent assessments of diagnostic status, standardized self-report measures and assessor ratings of severity and distress associated with the diagnosis of hypochondriasis were used. Results: In the intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis (N = 74), MBCT participants…

matched on Hypochondriasis (mesh), health anxiety (text)

Internet-based cognitive-behavioural therapy for severe health anxiety: randomised controlled trial.

Background: Hypochondriasis, characterised by severe health anxiety, is a common condition associated with functional disability. Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is an effective but not widely disseminated treatment for hypochondriasis. Internet-based CBT, including guidance in the form of minimal therapist contact via email, could be a more accessible treatment, but no study has investigated internet-based CBT for hypochondriasis. Aims: To investigate the efficacy of internet-based CBT for hypochondriasis. Method: A randomised controlled superiority trial with masked assessment comparing internet-based CBT (n = 40) over 12 weeks with an attention control condition (n = 41) for people with hypochondriasis. The primary outcome measure was the Health Anxiety Inventory. This trial is registrated with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00828152). Results: Participants receiving internet-based CBT ma…

matched on Hypochondriasis (mesh), health anxiety (text)

CHAMP: Cognitive behaviour therapy for health anxiety in medical patients, a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Abnormal health anxiety, also called hypochondriasis, has been successfully treated by cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) in patients recruited from primary care, but only one pilot trial has been carried out among those attending secondary medical clinics where health anxiety is likely to be more common and have a greater impact on services. The CHAMP study extends this work to examine both the clinical and cost effectiveness of CBT in this population. Method/design: The study is a randomized controlled trial with two parallel arms and equal randomization of 466 eligible patients (assuming a 20% drop-out) to an active treatment group of 5-10 sessions of cognitive behaviour therapy and to a control group. The aim at baseline, after completion of all assessments but before randomization, was to give a standard simple explanation of the nature of health anxiety for all participa…

matched on Hypochondriasis (mesh), health anxiety (text)

A randomized clinical trial of cognitive behavioural therapy versus short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy versus no intervention for patients with hypochondriasis.

Background: Hypochondriasis is common in the clinic and in the community. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has been found to be effective in previous trials. Psychodynamic psychotherapy is a treatment routinely offered to patients with hypochondriasis in many countries, including Denmark. The aim of this study was to test CBT for hypochondriasis in a centre that was not involved in its development and compare both CBT and short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy (STPP) to a waiting-list control and to each other. CBT was modified by including mindfulness and group therapy sessions, reducing the therapist time required. STPP consisted of individual sessions. Method: Eighty patients randomized to CBT, STPP and the waiting list were assessed on measures of health anxiety and general psychopathology before and after a 6-month treatment period. Waiting-list patients were subsequently offered…

matched on Hypochondriasis (mesh), health anxiety (text)

Effectiveness and cost offset analysis of group CBT for hypochondriasis delivered in a psychiatric setting: an open trial.

Hypochondriasis is highly prevalent in medical settings, has detrimental effects for affected individuals, and is associated with high societal costs. Although cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) has been shown to be effective in the treatment of hypochondriasis, it is not widely available because of a lack of properly trained therapists. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate therapy forms that require less therapist time. The authors investigated the effect and economic impact of group CBT delivered in a psychiatric setting among 24 people with hypochondriasis. A within-group design with prolonged baseline was used, and all participants received 10 weeks of group-based treatment. The primary outcome measures were the Health Anxiety Inventory and the Illness Attitude Scales. Results indicate significant improvement on both measures at posttreatment and 6-month follow-up (Cohen's d = 1.03-1…

matched on Hypochondriasis (mesh), health anxiety (text)

Somatic Symptom Disorder and Health Anxiety: Assessment and Management.

The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD) and Illness Anxiety Disorder (IAD) replaced the diagnostic entities of the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) somatoform disorders and hypochondriasis. SSD turns away from specifying the presence or absence of a medical condition for presented symptoms and instead focuses on excessive symptom-related affects, cognitions, and behaviors. People with pathological health anxiety can be diagnosed with SSD or IAD, depending on the intensity of accompanying somatic symptoms. Cognitive-behavioral therapy shows the best empirical evidence for an effective treatment of SSD and IAD.

matched on Hypochondriasis (mesh), Somatoform Disorders (mesh), health anxiety (text), illness anxiety (text), somatic symptom (text)

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for hypochondriasis/health anxiety: a meta-analysis of treatment outcome and moderators.

The present investigation employed meta-analysis to examine the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for hypochondriasis/health anxiety as well as potential moderators that may be associated with outcome. A literature search revealed 15 comparisons among 13 randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) with a total sample size of 1081 participants that met inclusion criteria. Results indicated that CBT outperformed control conditions on primary outcome measures at post-treatment (Hedges's g = 0.95) and at follow-up (Hedges's g = 0.34). CBT also outperformed control conditions on measures of depression at post-treatment (Hedges's g = 0.64) and at follow-up (Hedges's g = 0.35). Moderator analyses revealed that higher pre-treatment severity of hypochondriasis/health anxiety was associated with greater effect sizes at follow-up visits and depression symptom severity was significantly associa…

matched on Hypochondriasis (mesh)

Psychotherapies for hypochondriasis.

Background: Hypochondriasis is associated with significant medical morbidity and high health resource use. Recent studies have examined the treatment of hypochondriasis using various forms of psychotherapy. Objectives: To examine the effectiveness and comparative effectiveness of any form of psychotherapy for the treatment of hypochondriasis. Search strategy: 1. CCDANCTR-Studies and CCDANCTR-References were searched on 7/8/2007, CENTRAL, Medline, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Cinahl, ISI Web of Knowledge, AMED and WorldCat Dissertations; Current Controlled Trials meta-register (mRCT), CenterWatch, NHS National Research Register and clinicaltrials.gov; 2. Communication with authors of relevant studies and other clinicians in the field; 3. Handsearching reference lists of included studies and relevant review articles, and electronic citation search in ISI Web of Knowledge for all included studies. Sel…

matched on Hypochondriasis (mesh)

The multidimensional inventory of hypochondriacal traits: factor structure, specificity, reliability, and validity in patients with hypochondriasis.

Severe health anxiety constitutes a disabling and costly clinical condition. The Multidimensional Inventory of Hypochondriacal Traits (MIHT) represents an innovative instrument that was developed according to cognitive-behavioral, cognitive-perceptual, interpersonal, and trait models of hypochondriasis. We aimed at evaluating the psychometric properties of the MIHT in a sample of patients with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.) diagnosis of hypochondriasis. Using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), the postulated four-factor structure of the MIHT was found in a first CFA in patients with hypochondriasis (n = 178) and in a second CFA based on a mixed sample, with other somatoform disorders (n = 27), panic disorder (n = 25), and healthy controls (n = 31) added to the original group of patients with hypochondriasis (n = 178). In terms of specificity, patient…

matched on Hypochondriasis (mesh), Somatoform Disorders (mesh), health anxiety (text)

Specificity and modifiability of cognitive biases in hypochondriasis.

Objective: According to cognitive-behavioral models of hypochondriasis (HYP), biased attentional and memory processes related to health threat stimuli are crucial for the development and maintenance of severe health anxiety. Little is known about the specificity, temporal stability, and modifiability of these biases via psychotherapy. Method: In an emotional Stroop and subsequent recognition task, the authors compared attention and memory processes for health-related words (illnesses, bodily complaints, and panic-related words) in patients with HYP (n = 32), other somatoform disorders (SFD; n = 27), and panic disorder (PD; n = 25). A control group consisted of 31 healthy participants (CG). All patients were reexamined after 4 months of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Results: Patients with HYP showed a significant attentional bias toward all 3 target word categories. Evidence for a s…

matched on Hypochondriasis (mesh), Somatoform Disorders (mesh), health anxiety (text)

Reexamining the domain of hypochondriasis: comparing the Illness Attitudes Scale to other approaches.

The present study examined utility of the Illness Attitudes Scale (IAS; [Kellner, R. (1986). Somatization and hypochondriasis. New York: Praeger Publishers]) in a non-clinical college sample (N=235). Relationships among five recently identified IAS dimensions (fear of illness and pain, symptom effects, treatment experience, disease conviction, and health habits) and self-report measures of several anxiety-related constructs (health anxiety, body vigilance, intolerance of uncertainty, anxiety sensitivity, and non-specific anxiety symptoms) were examined. In addition, this study investigated the incremental validity of the IAS dimensions in predicting medical utilization. The fear of illness and pain dimension and the symptom effects dimension consistently shared stronger relations with the anxiety-related constructs compared to the other three IAS dimensions. The symptom effects dimension…

matched on Hypochondriasis (mesh), Somatoform Disorders (mesh), health anxiety (text)

Number of bodily symptoms predicts outcome more accurately than health anxiety in patients attending neurology, cardiology, and gastroenterology clinics.

Background: In consecutive new outpatients, we aimed to assess whether somatization and health anxiety predicted health care use and quality of life 6 months later in all patients or in those without demonstrable abnormalities. Method: On the first clinic visit, participants completed the Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ), the Health Anxiety Questionnaire (HAQ), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Outcome was assessed as: (a) the number of medical consultations over the subsequent 6 months, extracted from medical records, and (b) Short-Form Health Survey 36 (SF36) physical component score 6 months after index clinic visit. Results: A total of 295 patients were recruited (77% response rate), and medical consultation data were available for 275. The number of bodily symptoms was associated with both outcomes in linear fashion (P<.001), and this was independent of anx…

matched on Hypochondriasis (mesh), Somatoform Disorders (mesh), health anxiety (text)

Health anxiety and illness-related fears across diverse chronic illnesses: A systematic review on conceptualization, measurement, prevalence, course, and correlates.

Background: Patients with chronic diseases commonly report fears of illness or symptoms recurring or worsening. These fears have been addressed from an illness-specific perspective (e.g., fear of cancer recurrence), a generic illness perspective (e.g., fear of progression), and a psychiatric perspective (DSM-5 illness anxiety disorder and somatic symptom disorder). The broader concept of health anxiety (HA) can also be applied to patients with a chronic disease. This review was conducted to investigate the conceptual, theoretical, measurement-overlap, and differences between these distinct perspectives. We also aimed to summarize prevalence, course, and correlates of these fears in different chronic illnesses. Methods: We used PsycINFO, PubMED, CINAHL, Web of Science, SCOPUS, and PSYNDEX to conduct a systematic review of studies pertaining to these fears in chronic illness published from…

matched on health anxiety (text), illness anxiety (text), somatic symptom (text)

Health anxiety and disability pension award: The HUSK Study.

Objective: To examine the hypothesized effect of health anxiety on subsequent disability pension award. Mental disorders are consistently underrecognized in general health care, leading to underestimation of its effects on related social security expenditures. According to medicolegal diagnoses for disability pension award, there are almost no awards of disability benefits for health anxiety or hypochondriasis. There are no empirical longitudinal population-based studies on occupational disability in health anxiety or the extreme of hypochondriasis. Methods: Using a historical cohort design, we utilized a unique link between a large epidemiological cohort study (n = 6819) and a comprehensive national database of disability benefits to examine the effect of health anxiety on subsequent disability pension award (n = 277) during 1.0 to 6.6 years of follow-up. The data sources were merged af…

matched on Hypochondriasis (mesh), health anxiety (text)

Depression, anxiety, and somatoform disorders: vague or distinct categories in primary care? Results from a large cross-sectional study.

Objective: Depression, anxiety, and somatization are the most frequently observed mental disorders in primary health care. Our main objective was to draw on the often neglected general practitioners' (GPs) perspective to investigate what characterizes these three common mental diagnoses with regard to creating more suitable categories in the DSM-V and ICD-11. Methods: We collected independent data from 1751 primary care patients (participation rate=77%) and their 32 treating GPs in Germany. Patients filled out validated patient self-report measures for depression (PHQ-9), somatic symptom severity (PHQ-15), and illness anxiety (Whiteley-7), and questions regarding coping and attribution of illness. GPs' clinical diagnoses and associated features were assessed. Results: Patients diagnosed by their GPs with depression, anxiety, and/or somatoform disorders were significantly older, less educ…

matched on Somatoform Disorders (mesh), illness anxiety (text), somatic symptom (text)

Pharmacological interventions for somatoform disorders in adults.

Background: Somatoform disorders are characterised by chronic, medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS). Although different medications are part of treatment routines for people with somatoform disorders in clinics and private practices, there exists no systematic review or meta-analysis on the efficacy and tolerability of these medications. We aimed to synthesise to improve optimal treatment decisions. Objectives: To assess the effects of pharmacological interventions for somatoform disorders (specifically somatisation disorder, undifferentiated somatoform disorder, somatoform autonomic dysfunction, and pain disorder) in adults. Search methods: We searched the Cochrane Depression, Anxiety and Neurosis Review Group's Specialised Register (CCDANCTR) (to 17 January 2014). This register includes relevant randomised controlled trials (RCTs) from The Cochrane Library (all years), MEDLIN…

matched on Somatoform Disorders (mesh), somatic symptom (text)

Non-pharmacological interventions for somatoform disorders and medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS) in adults.

Background: Medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS) are physical symptoms for which no adequate medical explanation can be found after proper examination. The presence of MUPS is the key feature of conditions known as 'somatoform disorders'. Various psychological and physical therapies have been developed to treat somatoform disorders and MUPS. Although there are several reviews on non-pharmacological interventions for somatoform disorders and MUPS, a complete overview of the whole spectrum is missing. Objectives: To assess the effects of non-pharmacological interventions for somatoform disorders (specifically somatisation disorder, undifferentiated somatoform disorder, somatoform disorders unspecified, somatoform autonomic dysfunction, pain disorder, and alternative somatoform diagnoses proposed in the literature) and MUPS in adults, in comparison with treatment as usual, waiting…

matched on Somatoform Disorders (mesh), somatic symptom (text)

Treatment failure in cognitive-behavioural therapy: therapeutic alliance as a precondition for an adherent and competent implementation of techniques.

Objectives: Treatment failure is a common phenomenon, but little is known about the reasons. Therapeutic alliance, therapist adherence, and therapist competence are considered important aspects of treatment success and formed the focus of the current investigation. Design: Three randomized controlled trials for the treatment of depression, social phobia, and hypochondriasis were the basis of the current study. Methods: The role of therapeutic alliance, as well as therapist adherence and competence, were investigated in 61 patients, which were classified either as treatment failure or as treatment success. Process variables were evaluated by independent raters on the basis of videotapes of the first three treatment sessions. Results: Therapists' adherence and therapeutic alliance differed significantly between successful treatments and those classified as failures, whereas therapists' com…

matched on Hypochondriasis (mesh)

Effectiveness of psychosomatic therapy for patients with persistent somatic symptoms: Results from the CORPUS randomised controlled trial in primary care.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of psychosomatic therapy versus care as usual in primary care for patients with persistent somatic symptoms (PSS). Methods: We conducted a pragmatic, two-armed, randomised controlled trial among primary care patients with PSS in the Netherlands that included 39 general practices and 34 psychosomatic therapists. The intervention, psychosomatic therapy, consisted of 6-12 sessions delivered by specialised exercise- and physiotherapists. Primary outcome measure: patient's level of functioning. Secondary outcomes: severity of physical and psychosocial symptoms, health-related quality of life, health-related anxiety, illness behaviour and number of GP contacts. Results: Compared to usual care (n = 85), the intervention group (n = 84) showed no improvement in patient's level of functioning (mean difference - 0.50 [95% CI -1.10 to 0.10]; p = .10), and imp…

matched on Medically Unexplained Symptoms (mesh), somatic symptom (text)

Internet-based emotional awareness and expression therapy for somatic symptom disorder: A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Somatic symptom disorder (SSD) is commonly encountered in health care settings. Cognitive-behavioural treatments have been most extensively studied, but they tend to have small effects of temporary duration. Emotional awareness and expression therapy (EAET) is a newly developed treatment for SSD, targeting emotional processing of trauma and conflict as a mechanism of symptom change. In an earlier uncontrolled study of self-guided, internet-administrated EAET (I-EAET), we found substantial reductions in somatic symptoms, prompting the need for a randomized controlled trial of I-EAET. Methods: We conducted a 2-arm RCT, comparing 10-week I-EAET (n = 37) to a waitlist control (WL; n = 37). Primary outcomes were reductions of somatic symptoms (PHQ-15) and pain intensity (BPI-4) at post-treatment, with a 4-month evaluation of effect duration. We also analysed emotional processing (E…

matched on Medically Unexplained Symptoms (mesh), somatic symptom (text)

Structural alterations in functional neurological disorder and related conditions: a software and hardware problem?

Functional neurological (conversion) disorder (FND) is a condition at the interface of neurology and psychiatry. A "software" vs. "hardware" analogy describes abnormal neurobiological mechanisms occurring in the context of intact macroscopic brain structure. While useful for explanatory and treatment models, this framework may require more nuanced considerations in the context of quantitative structural neuroimaging findings in FND. Moreover, high co-occurrence of FND and somatic symptom disorders (SSD) as defined in DSM-IV (somatization disorder, somatoform pain disorder, and undifferentiated somatoform disorder; referred to as SSD for brevity in this article) raises the possibility of a partially overlapping pathophysiology. In this systematic review, we use a transdiagnostic approach to review and appraise the structural neuroimaging literature in FND and SSD. While larger sample size…

matched on Somatoform Disorders (mesh), somatic symptom (text)

Towards positive diagnostic criteria: a systematic review of somatoform disorder diagnoses and suggestions for future classification.

Objectives: The classification of somatoform disorders is currently being revised in order to improve its validity for the DSM-V and ICD-11. In this article, we compare the validity and clinical utility of current and several new diagnostic proposals of those somatoform disorders that focus on medically unexplained somatic symptoms. Methods: We searched the Medline, PsycInfo, and Cochrane databases, as well as relevant reference lists. We included review papers and original articles on the subject of somatoform classification in general, subtypes of validity of the diagnoses, or single diagnostic criteria. Results: Of all diagnostic proposals, only complex somatic symptom disorder and the Conceptual Issues in Somatoform and Similar Disorders (CISSD) example criteria reflect all dimensions of current biopsychosocial models of somatization (construct validity) and go beyond somatic symptom…

matched on Somatoform Disorders (mesh), somatic symptom (text)

The Patient Health Questionnaire Somatic, Anxiety, and Depressive Symptom Scales: a systematic review.

Background: Depression, anxiety and somatization are the most common mental disorders in primary care as well as medical specialty populations; each is present in at least 5-10% of patients and frequently comorbid with one another. An efficient means for measuring and monitoring all three conditions would be desirable. Methods: Evidence regarding the psychometric and pragmatic characteristics of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 depression, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)-7 anxiety and PHQ-15 somatic symptom scales are synthesized from two sources: (1) four multisite cross-sectional studies (three conducted in primary care and one in obstetric-gynecology practices) comprising 9740 patients, and (2) key studies from the literature that have studied these scales. Results: The PHQ-9 and its abbreviated eight-item (PHQ-8) and two-item (PHQ-2) versions have good sensitivity and spec…

matched on Somatoform Disorders (mesh), somatic symptom (text)