ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a case of a single 65-year-old woman who seems anxious about her physical health and requests repeated examinations and tests to be reassured that she is okay. She has a history of mild anxiety but nothing else of note. She and the friend had intended to travel on her retirement. She seems particularly worried that she is likely to get cancer of the uterus as she has never had children. She is a healthy looking slim woman. There is no evidence of any mental illness and physical examination is unremarkable. Hypochondriacal disorder should be considered, but her worries are more likely to represent an adjustment disorder in the context of bereavement and retirement. It is often necessary to carry out examination and investigations as a mechanism for reassurance, but regular and repeated tests may lead to heightening of anxiety as they can reinforce ruminations about health.
