Hypochondriasis in the Elderly Depressed

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Abstract
The significance of hypochondriacal complaints in elderly depressives was explored. Sixty percent of patients had such symptoms on admission. Twelve percent were delusional. At discharge, hypochondriasis was present in 40% of the sample, with 0% delusional. Hypochondriasis was associated with anxiety (P < .05) and somatic concerns (P < .001), but not with complaints of depressed mood, suicidality, or short‐term outcome. In dependent physical illness ratings did not correlate with hypochondriasis, however nonpsychotropic medication use did (P < .01). Improvement in hypochondriacal complaints with treatment, yet persistence of less intense hypochondriacal concerns after remission suggests that these features may represent an admixture of state and trait phenomena in elderly depressives.

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