Penelope has been having unexplained diarrhea for almost a year. She worries constantly that she will need to use a toilet when she is out of her home and has become very anxious about leaving the house. She spends several hours a week visiting Dr. Google to try to determine whether her diarrhea is indicative of something else. The best DSM-5 diagnosis for her would be:
A)Hypochondriasis
B)Illness anxiety disorder
C)Somatic symptom disorder
D)None of the above - she doesn't meet criteria for a disorder

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Penelope has been experiencing physical symptoms (diarrhea) for a significant amount of time, which has led to significant distress and anxiety about leaving her home. She also spends a lot of time researching her symptoms online, indicating excessive preoccupation with her physical health. These symptoms suggest that she may have somatic symptom disorder. Hypochondriasis is no longer a diagnosis in DSM-5 and has been replaced with illness anxiety disorder, but Penelope's symptoms are more consistent with somatic symptom disorder.

Penelope Has Been Having Unexplained Diarrhea for Almost a Year