Continuity of health anxiety from childhood to adolescence and associated healthcare costs: a prospective population‐based cohort study

Background Severe health anxiety (HA) is characterized by excessive and impairing worry and preoccupation with health issues and can cause increased and unnecessary medical examinations. HA in childhood and adolescence is scarcely explored, hindering the potential for prevention and early intervention. Methods HA was assessed in 1,278 children/youths at two time points at ages 11 and 16 years in a general population‐based birth cohort....