Association study of anxiety and hypochondriasis in student of Islamic Azad University, Lahijan medical branch in 2008

Anxiety, as a cognitive process, is the most prevalent mental disorder among any age group of human. In response to anxiety, subjects experience different psychological reaction, such as worry about physical situation and hypochondriasis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency and association of anxiety and hypochondriasis student of Islamic Azad University. This is a correlation- descriptive study. Among students of Islamic Azad University, Lahijan medical branch, 300 subjects were selected by random- stratified sampling. Data were gathered by demographic, Spielberger anxiety and hypochondriasis questionnaires. SPSS was used to analyze data. 28.3 and 34.4 percent of college students had severe anxiety and severe hypochondriasis, respectively. There was significant association between anxiety and hypochondriasis, and also between them and age, sex, marital status, residency, economic status, diseases at infancy and parents diseases (p<0.05). Anxiety can decrease the capability and personal or social functionality. As hypochondriasis is a reaction to psychological or affective problems such as anxiety, these researches can improve people mental health.