Causes

The exact cause of illness anxiety disorder isn't clear, but these factors may play a role:

• Beliefs. You may have a difficult time tolerating uncertainty over uncomfortable or unusual body sensations. This could lead you to misinterpret that all body sensations are serious, so you search for evidence to confirm that you have a serious disease.
• Family. You may be more likely to have health anxiety if you had parents who worried too much about their own health or your health.
• Past experience. You may have had experience with serious illness in childhood, so physical sensations may be frightening to you.