Prognosis

The prognosis for illness anxiety disorder is better for patients who are referred early for psychiatric evaluation, as opposed to those who only receive general medical care. Patients who are cooperative, tolerant, and hopeful typically have better outcomes. (1)

If a patient responds well to psychotherapy, medication, or both, the prognosis for illness anxiety disorder may be fair to good. (2) However, if the patient is experiencing severe symptoms which are refractory to psychiatric medications and psychotherapy, the prognosis becomes poor. These patients are also at a high risk for the development of another psychiatric illness such as major depressive disorder, other anxiety disorders, or a personality disorder.

If an individual has hypochondriacal personality traits then these are unlikely to change.

Reference

1. Chappell AS. Toward a Lifestyle Medicine Approach to Illness Anxiety Disorder (Formerly Hypochondriasis). Am J Lifestyle Med. 2018 Sep-Oct;12(5):365-369.
2. Scarella TM, Boland RJ, Barsky AJ. Illness Anxiety Disorder: Psychopathology, Epidemiology, Clinical Characteristics, and Treatment. Psychosom Med. 2019 Jun;81(5):398-407.