Illness anxiety symptoms among medical students in Jordan: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: Illness anxiety disorder (IAD) (previously known as hypochondriasis) is defined according to the DSM-5 as an excessive worry about having or developing a serious illness, despite minimal or no somatic symptoms. Medical students are especially vulnerable to such a diagnosis due to a combination of factors which include their heightened health awareness and their stressful studying environments. The prevalence of IAD among medical students has not been widely investigated, particularly in Jordan. This study aims to explore the prevalence of illness anxiety symptoms among medical students in Jordan, in both preclinical and clinical years. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students from public universities in Jordan. The questionnaire, which consisted of 20 questions, collected demographic data and assessed the likelihood of developing IAD based on DSM-5 criteria. Binary logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with higher probability of illness anxiety. Results: One thousand fifty medical students participated. There was a total of 343 male students and 707 female students. Results indicated that 9.3% of students had a higher likelihood of developing IAD, among which 8% stated that fear of illness makes it difficult for them to function in society. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that students planning to visit a psychiatrist had significantly higher chances of developing IAD. Additionally male and female students were found to have similar prevalence of illness anxiety symptoms, and the year of study (clinical vs preclinical) was not found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: This study provides a valuable insight about the prevalence of illness anxiety symptoms among medical students in Jordan. Further studies are needed to help in the identification of IAD and to help tailor appropriate and effective interventions to address IAD, to build a mentally healthier environment for students.