On 25/5, representatives from the Mental Health Institute, Bach Mai Hospital, stated that in late October 2025, the young man's family brought him to Emergency Center A9 with severe shortness of breath and rigid limbs. Doctors performed blood gas tests and chest X-rays, finding no abnormalities. The on-duty team then transferred the patient to the Mental Health Institute.
There, doctors diagnosed him with illness anxiety disorder. After nearly 40 days of combined psychological therapy, medication, and brain modulation, the patient's health significantly improved. He experienced a marked reduction in shortness of breath and spasms, and correctly understood the psychological nature of his symptoms.
Doctor Pham Thanh Tung added that the condition began over a year prior. At that time, the young man frequently experienced shortness of breath, nasal congestion, and chest tightness. Initial medical facilities diagnosed him with acute rhinosinusitis, prescribing antibiotics, nasal rinses, and gargles. Symptoms temporarily subsided but quickly recurred.
The patient continued to visit numerous large hospitals, receiving diagnoses of allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma, or sinusitis. Despite taking many medications, his condition did not improve, leading him to believe he had a serious illness.
"The patient did not believe he only had common ailments, always attributing his shortness of breath and chest tightness to dangerous diseases," Doctor Tung emphasized.
Despite explanations and reassurance from medical staff, the young man remained obsessed with the idea of having a tumor or polyp in his nose. He frequently checked his nose and throat in the mirror, observed his phlegm, and repeatedly demanded endoscopies or additional antibiotics from doctors.
Over time, the episodes of shortness of breath became more frequent, leading to fatigue, lack of concentration, decreased energy, and feelings of worthlessness.
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Patient receiving examination at the Mental Health Institute. Photo: Thu Lieu |
Patient receiving examination at the Mental Health Institute. Photo: Thu Lieu
Associate Professor Nguyen Van Tuan, Director of the Mental Health Institute, explained that illness anxiety disorder (IAD) causes patients to worry excessively about the risk of serious illness, despite completely normal clinical examination results.
Patients often obsess over minor bodily changes, constantly checking their health, searching for information online, or visiting multiple doctors. This disorder commonly begins in individuals in their twenties and thirties, affecting both genders. Those with a history of anxiety or depression, who have experienced psychological trauma, live in stressful environments, or have perfectionist personalities, have a higher risk of developing it.
Experts note that many people fall into a spiral of anxiety by constantly searching for symptoms online and self-diagnosing serious illnesses. This habit causes prolonged stress, disrupts sleep, and severely impacts work and social relationships.
Doctors recommend that treatment requires patients to combine cognitive behavioral therapy and medication, while also abandoning excessive reassurance-seeking behaviors and maintaining regular psychiatric appointments.
Le Nga
