Appendix

The whiteley index is one of about a dozen questionnaires developed to identify hypochondriacs. This particular test tries to distinguish among subgroups of hypochondriacs, namely those who are preoccupied with symptoms, those who fear developing a serious disease, and those who are convinced they are already ill.

Answer yes or no.

A. Do you often worry about the possibility that you have a serious illness?

B. Are you bothered by many aches and pains?

C. Are you frequently aware of various things happening in your body?

D. Do you worry a lot about your health?

E. Do you often have the symptoms of very serious illnesses?

F. If a disease is brought to your attention through radio, television, newspapers, or someone you know, do you worry about getting it yourself?

G. If you are ill and someone tells you that you are looking better, are you annoyed?

H. Do you find that you are bothered by many different symptoms?

I. Is it easy for you to forget yourself and think about all sorts of other things?

J. Is it hard for you to believe the doctor when he tells you there is nothing to worry about?

K. Do you get the feeling that people are not taking your illness seriously enough?

L. Do you think that you worry about your health more than most people?

M. Do you think there is something seriously wrong with your body?

N. Are you afraid of illness?

Questions such as A, D, E, and J are answered in the affirmative by almost all hypochondriacs who are willing to acknowledge their apprehensions. Individuals also answering yes to B, C, and H are said to have a greater-than-usual preoccupation with their bodies. Something is always wrong somewhere, and their complaining has probably become habitual.

Persons answering yes to F, L, and N and no to I are categorized as disease phobic. These people are afraid of getting certain diseases. Under stress they may be terrified that they are getting sick, but when life is going well their apprehensions may be expressed only as a concern for eating right, not taxing themselves, and not coming into contact with germs or pollutants.

Yes answers to G, K, and M suggest a conviction of disease and a somewhat suspicious attitude toward others. This may be a more settled form of hypochondria.

The Whiteley Index is taken from I. Pilowsky, "Dimensions of Hypochondriasis," British Journal of Psychiatry 113 (1967): 89–93.