Hypochondria << `hy` puh KON dree uh >> is a state of mind in which people persistently and morbidly worry about their health, even though they have no disease. Such people, convinced that they are ill, complain of puzzling symptoms. They seek, and may receive, various medical treatments. But at best, they get only temporary relief. Symptoms of this kind are frequently seen in people with various types of mental illness. In popular usage, any person complaining of vague or persistent symptoms may be called a hypochondriac. See also Mental illness.
