HEALTH ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION: A REVIEW OF COMMON PSYCHOLOGICAL PROCESSES

Abstract

Health anxiety is an important psychological construct characterized by the tendency to interpret bodily sensations as signs of a serious illness and to experience excessive concern regarding one's health status. Recent research has demonstrated that health anxiety is not limited to health-related worries but is also closely associated with depressive symptoms. The aim of this review is to examine the relationship between health anxiety and depression in light of the current literature and to evaluate the cognitive, emotional, and biological mechanisms contributing to this association. Within this scope, the historical development, theoretical foundations, and empirical findings related to health anxiety and depression are discussed. Existing evidence indicates a significant and positive relationship between health anxiety and depressive symptoms. In particular, negative automatic thoughts, intolerance of uncertainty, threatening interpretations of bodily sensations, and difficulties in emotion regulation appear to play important roles in the development and maintenance of both conditions. Furthermore, the association between health anxiety and depression has been shown to have important implications for quality of life, functional impairment, and healthcare utilization. In conclusion, addressing health anxiety and depression within the framework of shared psychological mechanisms may contribute substantially to clinical assessment processes and the development of more effective intervention programs.