A patient who is excessively worried about acquiring an illness, using medical services excessively or completely avoiding them for at least six months has?

The correct answer is related to a condition characterized by an excessive preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious illness, often referred to as hypochondriasis. This condition manifests in individuals who might frequently seek medical evaluations, ask for numerous tests, or conversely, avoid medical services altogether due to their intense fear of illness.

In this scenario, the patient’s symptoms—persistent worry about acquiring an illness and behavior that involves excessive use of medical services or avoidance of them—align well with the diagnostic criteria for hypochondriasis. The duration of at least six months is also a key factor in solidifying the diagnosis, indicating that the patient’s fears and behaviors are not fleeting but rather sustained over a significant period.

The other options do not match the described symptoms or behavioral patterns. Body Dysmorphic Disorder primarily focuses on an obsession with perceived flaws in one’s appearance rather than illness. Factitious Disorder involves intentionally producing or feigning symptoms for attention or care, while malingering refers to the deliberate fabrication of symptoms for tangible benefits like financial gain or avoiding responsibilities. Neither of these address the excessive health-related anxiety that defines hypochondriasis.