Excessive anxiety about physical symptoms with a medical or purely psychological origin is known as what disorder?

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Prepare for the UCF PSY2012 General Psychology Final! Use flashcards and multiple choice questions with hints and explanations. Ace your exam!

Excessive anxiety about physical symptoms that can arise from either medical conditions or psychological factors is characteristic of Somatic Symptom Disorder. This disorder involves an individual experiencing significant distress or impairment caused by these symptoms, even if the medical evaluation reveals that there is no substantial medical condition causing them.

In this context, the focus is on the individual's preoccupation with their physical symptoms and the anxiety that accompanies them, rather than the symptoms themselves. This disorder illustrates how psychological aspects can amplify physical complaints, leading to a cycle of distress and concern about health that isn't necessarily warranted by the objective medical findings.

The other conditions listed, such as Dissociative Identity Disorder, Major Depression, and Bipolar Disorder, do not primarily focus on the excessive anxiety regarding physical symptoms. Instead, they involve different psychological patterns and behaviors, making Somatic Symptom Disorder the most appropriate choice for this question.