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

The second Randomised Evaluation of the Effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and Acceptability of Computerised Therapy (REEACT-2) trial: does the provision of telephone support enhance the effectiveness of computer-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy? A randomised controlled trial.

Background: Computerised cognitive behaviour therapy (cCBT) is an efficient form of therapy potentially improving access to psychological care. Indirect evidence suggests that the uptake and effectiveness of cCBT can be increased if facilitated by telephone, but this is not routinely offered in the NHS. Objectives: To compare the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of telephone-facilitated free-to-use cCBT [e.g. MoodGYM (National Institute for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia)] with minimally supported cCBT. Design: This study was a multisite, pragmatic, open, two-arm, parallel-group randomised controlled trial with a concurrent economic evaluation. Setting: Participants were recruited from GP practices in Bristol, Manchester, Sheffield, Hull and the north-east of England. Participants: Potential participants were eligible to part…

matched on Somatoform Disorders (mesh)

Randomized controlled trial of expressive writing for psychological and physical health: the moderating role of emotional expressivity.

The current study assessed main effects and moderators (including emotional expressiveness, emotional processing, and ambivalence over emotional expression) of the effects of expressive writing in a sample of healthy adults. Young adult participants (N=116) were randomly assigned to write for 20 minutes on four occasions about deepest thoughts and feelings regarding their most stressful/traumatic event in the past five years (expressive writing) or about a control topic (control). Dependent variables were indicators of anxiety, depression, and physical symptoms. No significant effects of writing condition were evident on anxiety, depressive symptoms, or physical symptoms. Emotional expressiveness emerged as a significant moderator of anxiety outcomes, however. Within the expressive writing group, participants high in expressiveness evidenced a significant reduction in anxiety at three-mo…

matched on Somatoform Disorders (mesh)

Short-term cognitive behavioral therapy for non-cardiac chest pain and benign palpitations: a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: Many patients with noncardiac chest pain or benign palpitations have poor prognosis in terms of symptom persistence, limitations in everyday activities, and reduced health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The aim of the study was to compare a three-session manualized cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention with normal care for patients with noncardiac chest pain or benign palpitations in a randomized controlled trial. Methods: Patients with persistent complaints six months after a negative evaluation at a cardiological outpatient clinic were invited to participate. Of the 94 eligible patients, 40 agreed to participate and were randomly assigned to either an intervention or control group. Patients in the intervention group received three manualized sessions with CBT, including one physical activity exposure session. The control group received usual care from their gene…

matched on Somatoform Disorders (mesh)

Effects of expressive writing on standardized graduate entrance exam performance and physical health functioning.

A substantial body of literature has demonstrated that expressive writing about an individual's deepest thoughts and feelings regarding a past or ongoing stressful experience results in a wide range of beneficial effects, including physical health and cognitive functioning. The authors examined the effects of writing about a future stressful experience--an impending graduate entrance exam--by comparing the exam performance and physical health functioning of participants who wrote about their deepest thoughts regarding the exam with those of participants who wrote about neutral and nonemotional topics. The experimental group reported a mean exam score that was significantly (19 percentile points) higher than that of the comparison group (i.e., the control group). The participants in the experimental group who wrote on 3--compared with fewer--occasions experienced the greatest benefits. Th…

matched on Somatoform Disorders (mesh)

Difference in treatment outcome in outpatients with anxious versus nonanxious depression: a STAR*D report.

Objective: About half of outpatients with major depressive disorder also have clinically meaningful levels of anxiety. The authors conducted a secondary data analysis to compare antidepressant treatment outcomes for patients with anxious and nonanxious major depression in Levels 1 and 2 of the STAR*D study. Method: A total of 2,876 adult outpatients with major depressive disorder, enrolled from 18 primary and 23 psychiatric care sites, received citalopram in Level 1 of STAR*D. In Level 2, a total of 1,292 patients who did not remit with or tolerate citalopram were randomly assigned either to switch to sustained-release bupropion (N=239), sertraline (N=238), or extended-release venlafaxine (N=250) or to continue taking citalopram and receive augmentation with sustained-release bupropion (N=279) or buspirone (N=286). Treatment could last up to 14 weeks in each level. Patients were designat…

matched on Somatoform Disorders (mesh)

Efficacy of internet therapy for panic disorder.

Fifty-five people with panic disorder (PD) were randomised to internet-based cognitive behavioural panic treatment (CBT) (with email contact), therapist-assisted CBT manual or information-only control (both with telephone contact). Both CBT treatments were more effective in reducing PD symptomatology, panic-related cognition, negative affect, and number of GP visits and improving physical health ratings. Internet treatment was more effective than CBT manual in reducing clinician-rated agoraphobia and number of GP visits at post-assessment. At follow-up, these effects were maintained for both CBT groups, with internet CBT better at improving physical health ratings and reducing GP visits. This study provides support for the efficacy of internet-based CBT.

matched on Somatoform Disorders (mesh)

Impact of nickel oral hyposensitization on quality of life in systemic nickel allergy syndrome.

Nickel (Ni) oral hyposensitization treatment (NiOHT) is an effective management approach for Ni allergy. No health-related quality of life (HRQoL) data exist for the pre- and post-treatment with NiOHT in systemic nickel allergy syndrome (SNAS). The aims of this study were (a) to explore HRQoL in SNAS patients, (b) to assess changes of HRQoL after 1 year of NiOHT; (c) to evaluate psychological status of patients. SNAS patients completed the Short-Form 36-Item Health Survey and Psychological General Well-Being Index before and 1 week after the end of NiOHT. Moreover, psychological state was assessed with the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2). A total of 52 patients self-reported pre- and post-treatment questionnaires. HRQoL was poor at baseline. After 1 year of NiOHT, all outcome measure scores improved by about 20% with respect to baseline data (P < 0.01 for all indices…

matched on Hypochondriasis (mesh)

Assessment of implicit health attitudes: a multitrait-multimethod approach and a comparison between patients with hypochondriasis and patients with anxiety disorders.

Two adaptations of the Implicit Association Task were used to assess implicit anxiety (IAT-Anxiety) and implicit health attitudes (IAT-Hypochondriasis) in patients with hypochondriasis (n = 58) and anxiety patients (n = 71). Explicit anxieties and health attitudes were assessed using questionnaires. The analysis of several multitrait-multimethod models indicated that the low correlation between explicit and implicit measures of health attitudes is due to the substantial methodological differences between the IAT and the self-report questionnaire. Patients with hypochondriasis displayed significantly more dysfunctional explicit and implicit health attitudes than anxiety patients, but no differences were found regarding explicit and implicit anxieties. The study demonstrates the specificity of explicit and implicit dysfunctional health attitudes among patients with hypochondriasis.

matched on Hypochondriasis (mesh)

The factor structure and reliability of the Illness Attitude Scales in a student and a patient sample.

Background: The Illness Attitude Scales (IAS), designed by Kellner in 1986, assesses fears, beliefs, and attitudes associated with hypochondriasis and abnormal illness behaviour. However, its factor structure is, especially for translations of the IAS, not sufficiently explored. Thus, the present Study aimed to analyse the factor structure of the IAS in a German student and a patient population using exploratory factor analysis. Methods: A mixed student (N = 296) and a mixed patient (N = 130) sample completed the IAS. The data was submitted to principal components analyses (PCA) with subsequent oblique rotations. From identified factor structures, scales were derived and submitted to reliability analyses as well as to a preliminary validity analysis. Results: The PCA revealed a four-factor solution in the student sample: (1) fear of illness and death; (2) treatment experience; (3) hypoch…

matched on Hypochondriasis (mesh)

[Study of the level of social apprehension in primary care users. Its relationship with anxiety and illness behaviour].

Objective: To analyse the level of social apprehension in people who use primary care centres and its relationship with their level of anxiety and illness behaviour. Design: Descriptive, observational, and cross-sectional study. Setting: The study was carried out at 3 primary care centres: CAP Sant Miquel, CAP Bellavista, and CAP Vallès Oriental. Participants: 330 subjects aged between 18 and 75 years old who used their primary care Centre and participated voluntarily in the study. Main measurements: A sociodemographic data questionnaire and the following measurements were used: the Social Apprehension Scale (SAS), the State/Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Illness Behaviour Questionnaire (IBQ). Results: 31.8% of the subjects showed high levels of social apprehension and 44.5% revealed moderate scores. Statistically meaningful relation was observed between the levels of social app…

matched on Hypochondriasis (mesh)

Persistent physical symptoms: definition, genesis, and management.

Persistent physical symptoms (synonymous with persistent somatic symptoms) is an umbrella term for distressing somatic complaints that last several months or more, regardless of their cause. These symptoms are associated with substantial disability and represent a major burden for patients, health-care professionals, and society. Persistent physical symptoms can follow infections, injuries, medical diseases, stressful life events, or arise de novo. As symptoms persist, their link to clearly identifiable pathophysiology often weakens, making diagnosis and treatment challenging. Multiple biological and psychosocial risk factors and mechanisms contribute to the persistence of somatic symptoms, including persistent inflammation; epigenetic profiles; immune, metabolic and microbiome dysregulation; early adverse life experiences; depression; illness-related anxiety; dysfunctional symptom expec…

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

Somatic symptom disorder: a scoping review on the empirical evidence of a new diagnosis.

Background: In 2013, the diagnosis of somatic symptom disorder (SSD) was introduced into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). This review aims to comprehensively synthesize contemporary evidence related to SSD. Methods: A scoping review was conducted using PubMed, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library. The main inclusion criteria were SSD and publication in the English language between 01/2009 and 05/2020. Systematic search terms also included subheadings for the DSM-5 text sections; i.e., diagnostic features, prevalence, development and course, risk and prognostic factors, culture, gender, suicide risk, functional consequences, differential diagnosis, and comorbidity. Results: Eight hundred and eighty-two articles were identified, of which 59 full texts were included for analysis. Empirical evidence supports the reliability, validity, and clinical utility of SSD d…

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

The Schedule for Evaluating Persistent Symptoms (SEPS): a new method of recording medically unexplained symptoms.

Background: Medically unexplained symptoms are difficult to measure and in most cases the diagnosis is made either from independent data such as consultants' opinions or medical outcomes, or by proxy measures such as numbers of symptoms or consultations. A valid self-rated measure would be of value in assessing this highly prevalent condition. Aims: To describe a new scale of nine items, the Schedule for Evaluation of Persistent Symptoms (SEPS), its properties, its internal consistency, its distribution in a sample of 470 medical patients, its relationship to social functioning and health anxiety (hypochondriasis), and its construct validity by comparing its results with an independent diagnostic examination of each patient's notes two years subsequent to assessment. Method: A prevalence study was carried out in 405 consenting medical patients in primary care, cardiology, respiratory med…

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

Recent Advances in the Understanding and Treatment of Health Anxiety.

Purpose of review: To examine the diagnosis of health anxiety, its prevalence in different settings, public health significance, treatment, and outcome. Recent findings: Health anxiety is similar to hypochondriasis but is characterized by fear of, rather than conviction of, illness. Lifetime prevalence rates are 6% in the population and as high as 20% in hospital out-patients, leading to greater costs to health services through unnecessary medical contacts. Its prevalence may be increasing because of excessive internet browsing (cyberchondria). Drug treatment with antidepressants has some efficacy but is not well-liked, but psychological treatments, including cognitive behavior therapy, stress management, mindfulness training, and acceptance and commitment therapy, given either individually, in groups, or over the Internet, have all proved efficacious in both the short and longer term. U…

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

Health anxiety disorders in older adults: conceptualizing complex conditions in late life.

Health anxiety disorders (e.g., hypochondriasis) are prevalent but understudied in older adults. Existing research suggests that severe health anxiety has a late age of onset, perhaps because of comorbidity with physical health conditions that are more likely to occur with aging. Despite being under diagnosed in later life due to a lack of age-appropriate diagnostic criteria, significant positive associations with age suggest that health anxiety disorders are more prevalent in older than younger adults. Preliminary research also highlights the complexity of these disorders in older adults and the potential importance of medical morbidity as a risk factor. This review explores the complexities of health anxiety disorders in later life with a focus on understanding defining features, prevalence rates, correlates, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. We offer a theoretical model of the dev…

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

Health anxiety: current perspectives and future directions.

Health anxiety is a ubiquitous experience that arises when bodily sensations or changes are believed to be indicative of a serious disease. Severe expressions of health anxiety are most often classified as hypochondriasis in the current DSM-IV-TR; however, various alternative classification schemas have been proposed for the DSM-V. Regardless of classification, severe health anxiety has significant negative impacts on well-being, social and occupational functioning, and health care resource utilization. In this review, we focus on classification issues pertinent to severe health anxiety, summarize recent research regarding potential mechanisms underlying the condition, and summarize the state of the art with respect to assessment and treatment. Future research directions are noted and suggested throughout.

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

[Health anxiety - increased knowledge and treatment options].

Patients with hypochondriasis are preoccupied with the fear or belief that they have a serious, undiagnosed disease. This concern derives from misinterpretations of benign physical sensations, and persists despite appropriate reassurance to the contrary. They have, on average, disproportionately high rates of visits to physicians, specialty consultations, laboratory tests, and surgical procedures, as well as high health care costs. Despite this extensive medical attention, they find their care unsatisfactory, which is understandable, as convincing alternative explanations to their ailments are repeatedly delayed. Physicians, in turn, may feel discouraged and frustrated in relation to these individuals where their best efforts to help often prove ineffective or are even rejected. Recent scientific studies have shown that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and selective serotonin reuptake…

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

Hypochondriasis: conceptualization, treatment, and relationship to obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Once considered exclusively as a problem secondary to other mental dis-orders (ie, mood disorders), HC is now known to occur quite often as a pri-mary diagnosis. A frequent drain on medical resources, patients who have HC can be viewed as suffering essentially from an anxiety disorder in which intense fear is focused on the possibility that they might be seriously physically ill or that such illness is imminent. The processes that contribute to the development and maintenance of such health anxiety consist largely of beliefs, assumptions, and behavioral responses that, although internally consistent with the perception of health-related threat, are erroneous and highly maladaptive in that they prevent the correction of erroneous perceptions of threat. There is growing evidence that this conceptualization leads to effective reduction in HC symptoms through cognitive-behavioral and pharmac…

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

Listening to hypochondriasis and hearing health anxiety.

Although hypochondriasis is categorized as a somatoform disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition--Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) due to excessive focus on bodily symptoms for at least 6 months, a contemporary conceptualization suggests that hypochondriasis represents an intense form of health anxiety. This article discusses the clinical presentation of hypochondriasis, etiological underpinnings and multiple maintaining factors, including physiological, cognitive and behavioral components. A cognitive-behavioral model of hypochondriasis as health anxiety and the empirically supported treatment based on the model are articulated. Future directions and informational resources are provided for both clinicians and patients.

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

Depression, anxiety and somatization in primary care: syndrome overlap and functional impairment.

Objective: To determine diagnostic overlap of depression, anxiety and somatization as well as their unique and overlapping contribution to functional impairment. Method: Two thousand ninety-one consecutive primary care clinic patients participated in a multicenter cross-sectional survey in 15 primary care clinics in the United States (participation rate, 92%). Depression, anxiety, somatization and functional impairment were assessed using validated scales from the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) (PHQ-8, eight-item depression module; GAD-7, seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale; and PHQ-15, 15-item somatic symptom scale) and the Short-Form General Health Survey (SF-20). Multiple linear regression analyses were used to investigate unique and overlapping associations of depression, anxiety and somatization with functional impairment. Results: In over 50% of cases, comorbidities e…

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

Association of posttraumatic stress disorder with somatic symptoms, health care visits, and absenteeism among Iraq war veterans.

Objective: Studies of soldiers from prior wars conducted many years after combat have shown associations between combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and physical health problems. The current Iraq war has posed a considerable PTSD risk, but the association with physical health has not been well studied. Method: The authors studied 2,863 soldiers using standardized self-administered screening instruments 1 year after their return from combat duty in Iraq. Results: Among all participants, 16.6% met screening criteria for PTSD. PTSD was significantly associated with lower ratings of general health, more sick call visits, more missed workdays, more physical symptoms, and high somatic symptom severity. These results remained significant after control for being wounded or injured. Conclusions: The high prevalence of PTSD and its strong association with physical health problems a…

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

DSM-5 illness anxiety disorder and somatic symptom disorder: Comorbidity, correlates, and overlap with DSM-IV hypochondriasis.

Objective: To investigate the reliability, validity and utility of DSM-5 illness anxiety disorder (IAD) and somatic symptom disorder (SSD), and explore their overlap with DSM-IV Hypochondriasis in a health anxious sample. Methods: Treatment-seeking patients with health anxiety (N=118) completed structured diagnostic interviews to assess DSM-IV Hypochondriasis, DSM-5 IAD, SSD, and comorbid mental disorders, and completed self-report measures of health anxiety, comorbid symptoms, cognitions and behaviours, and service utilization. Results: IAD and SSD were more reliable diagnoses than Hypochondriasis (kappa estimates: IAD: 0.80, SSD: 0.92, Hypochondriasis: 0.60). 45% of patients were diagnosed with SSD, 47% with IAD, and 8% with comorbid IAD/SSD. Most patients with IAD fluctuated between seeking and avoiding care (61%), whereas care-seeking (25%) and care-avoidant subtypes were less common…

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

Symptom recognition and help seeking for depression in young adults: a vignette study.

Purpose: Many young people with psychological problems do not seek help. Recognition of problems and knowledge of appropriate sources of help may increase the likelihood of help seeking. This study aimed to explore whether young adults recognised depressive symptoms in a vignette, and how they thought a young person might respond to these symptoms. Methods: A postal survey was sent to 3,004 young people aged 16-24 in SW England. The survey included a two-part vignette; the first part depicted mild depressive symptoms, and the second part depicted severe depressive symptoms. Open-ended questions exploring symptom recognition and illness behaviour were answered by 1,125 respondents. Results: Severe depressive symptoms were recognised by 61.4% of respondents. Young men, particularly those from deprived backgrounds were less likely than women to recognise a mental health problem. Men were al…

matched on Illness Behavior (mesh)

Management of somatic symptom disorder.

This review paper gives an overview of the management of somatic symptom disorder. It starts with a description of the clinical problem of patients with persistent bodily distress, discusses classificatory, epidemiological, and etiological issues and then describes the evidence and practical principles of dealing with these patients who are often seen as "difficult" to treat. It is concluded that the best-suited approach is stepped care with close cooperation of primary care, a somatic specialist, and mental health care professionals operating on the basis of a biopsychosocial model of integrating somatic as well as psychosocial determinants of distress and therapeutic factors.

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

Polonium-210 poisoning in London: hypochondriasis and public health.

Introduction: In November 2006, a Russian dissident died from radioactive Polonium-210 (210Po) poisoning in London. Providing reassuring messages during a public health incident may be ineffective for individuals with high health anxiety (hypochondriasis). Methods: Members of the public who called a 24-hour telephone helpline were offered a follow-up call by a health protection specialist for reassurance. A psychiatrist attempted to contact those callers who were unable to be reassured by the health protection specialist. Results: Of 872 individuals contacted for reassurance, seven (0.6%) could not be reassured. The psychiatrist contacted four of these individuals. Three had a history of health-related anxiety and two attributed somatic symptoms to 210Po exposure. Conclusions: For individuals with hypochondriasis, reassurance during major public health incidents may be ineffective. Havin…

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