Risk of self-harm in patients with hypochondriasis: a population-based cohort study.

Objective: This study aimed to ascertain whether individuals diagnosed with hypochondriasis (HYPO) exhibit a heightened risk of self-harming behaviors in comparison to those without the disorder. Methods: In this matched cohort study, we conducted a review of electronic health records of all patients admitted to Hong Kong public hospitals for any reason between January 1, 1993, and December 31, 2022. A HYPO cohort comprising 906 patients was identified, along with a comparison cohort of 906 matched subjects. All participants were followed until the occurrence of a self-harm diagnosis, death from other causes, or the end of 2023, whichever came first. The risk of self-harm from the onset of HYPO was estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression models and competing risk analysis. Results: Over the 30-year duration of the study, the number of individuals exhibiting self-harm behavior was 51 (5.6%) in the HYPO group and 49 (5.4%) in the comparison group. Both groups demonstrated comparable proportions of subjects engaging in self-harm (χ Conclusions: We did not find significant evidence for an elevated risk of self-harm associated with HYPO. Future research is warranted to replicate these findings and to more comprehensively identify the potential unique risk factors for self-harm in this patient population.