A community-based epidemiological study of health anxiety and generalized anxiety disorder

Highlights • Worry about personal health was twice more common among respondents with GAD than those without. • The inclusion of personal health worry in the DSM-V is appropriate. • GAD respondents with high health anxiety were significantly older, less educated, and had lower family income. • High health anxiety increased depressive episode occurrence, domains of worries, GAD symptoms, and service use. • A high level of health anxiety in GAD may signify a more severe form of the disorder.