Health Anxiety Test: what it measures and how to interpret your score

Health anxiety, formerly called hypochondria, is characterized by excessive and persistent preoccupation with the possibility of having a serious illness. This test assesses four fundamental dimensions: somatic preoccupations, body checking behaviors, compulsive reassurance seeking from healthcare professionals or the internet, and the tendency to catastrophize symptoms. The results will help you better understand your relationship with health and your body. Psy Lounge extends this article with a space to talk it through with a CBT-trained AI.

In the article that follows, I explore anxiety and chronic worry. If you recognise yourself in this theme, I designed a generalized anxiety test that helps you take stock of your everyday anxiety level. It comes with a guide to extend your reflection beyond the results. I also wrote two books on this subject, Overcoming Anxiety and Stress and The Practical CBT Guide, if you would like to go further.

What the test measures

• Excessive attention to bodily sensations and anxious interpretation of symptoms.
• Repeated examination of the body searching for signs of illness.
• Compulsive need to be reassured by doctors, loved ones, or the internet.
• Tendency to interpret benign symptoms as signs of serious illness.

How to interpret your score

Your result reads as an intensity, not a diagnosis:

• Low health anxiety : Your relationship with health is healthy. You do not present excessive concerns about your health status.
• Moderate health anxiety : You show signs of moderate health anxiety. Your somatic preoccupations exceed normal vigilance and are beginning to affect your well-being.
• High health anxiety : Your health anxiety is significantly elevated. Preoccupations, checking, and reassurance seeking impact your quality of life. Therapeutic support is recommended.
• Very high health anxiety : Your health anxiety is very high and generates considerable suffering. The vicious cycles of checking and catastrophizing require specialized care.

Take the test: Mental Rumination → — Health anxiety feeds on the same anxious loops of catastrophizing and re-checking; measuring your tendency to ruminate helps you see what keeps the cycle turning.

What your full report includes

Beyond the first 5 free questions, the detailed PDF report includes:

• Introduction : This report presents the results of your Health Anxiety Test.
• Global Score : Your overall health anxiety score.
• Analysis by Dimension : Detail of each assessed dimension.
• Recommendations : Personalized recommendations based on your results.
• Resources : Useful resources for further information.

The full personalised report (your precise score, your profile per dimension, your recommendations) is paid.

When to take this test

• You recognise yourself in health anxiety, hypochondria, somatization and want to see more clearly.
• You want a structured reading rather than a vague impression.
• You are looking for an objective starting point before talking to a professional if needed.

Take the Psy Test → — 63 questions, anonymous, PDF report.

FAQ

How long does the test take? 63 questions, about 15 min. The first 5 are free. Does the test provide a diagnosis? No. It measures an intensity and gives you reference points; only a professional can make a diagnosis. Are my answers confidential? Yes: the test is 100% anonymous and the report is delivered directly to you.

---

👉 Start the Health Anxiety Test → — 63 questions, instant result, PDF report, 100% anonymous.