Which of the following falls under the category of somatic symptom and related disorders?

• A. Major depressive disorder
• B. Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• C. Generalized anxiety disorder
• D. Illness anxiety disorder

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the definition of somatic symptom and related disorders. These disorders are characterized by an intense focus on physical symptoms that cause significant distress or impairment, often without a clear medical cause.
2. Step 2: Review the options given and identify their primary diagnostic categories. Major depressive disorder is a mood disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder is an anxiety-related disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder is an anxiety disorder.
3. Step 3: Recognize that illness anxiety disorder involves excessive worry about having or acquiring a serious illness, despite minimal or no somatic symptoms, fitting the criteria for somatic symptom and related disorders.
4. Step 4: Compare the characteristics of illness anxiety disorder with the other options to confirm it aligns with the somatic symptom and related disorders category.
5. Step 5: Conclude that illness anxiety disorder is the correct choice because it specifically falls under the somatic symptom and related disorders category, unlike the other listed disorders.