Investigating the hypochondriasis and Related Factors in the general Iranian population in COVID-19 epidemic in 2020

Background: Due to the global spread of Covid-19 virus, this new disease besides having physical effects, can have a serious impact on people's mental health and increase anxiety. The purpose of this study was to determine hypochondriasis and related factors in the general population of Iran during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.  Methods: This web-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 1633 individuals from the general population of Iran between August and February 2020. Data were collected using online questionnaires via social media such as WhatsApp and Telegram. To evaluate hypochondriasis, the questionnaire of hypochondriasis was used. Then, the results were analyzed using SPSS software version 16 and descriptive and analytical statistics. Results: The mean score of hypochondriasis was 11.23± 5.99. Using multiple linear regression analysis, it was found that high hypochondriasis was significantly associated with youth, female gender, chronic disease, death of family members, relatives or friends due to COVID-19 disease, contact with suspicious or confirmed cases of COVID- 19, persistent thinking of COVID-19, hospitalization history, smoking, drug use, and low physical activity (P<0.05). Conclusions: Since the Covid-19 pandemic has serious effects on the physical and mental health of different groups in society, identification of the psychological condition of different people in society being affected by COVID-19 disease is necessary to present appropriate and purposeful psychiatric protocols and plans for the mental health of individuals.