What is the most common diagnosis for a patient persistently seeking tests for meningitis despite normal evaluations?

The most common diagnosis for a patient persistently seeking tests for meningitis despite normal evaluations is somatic symptom disorder. This diagnosis is characterized by the presence of one or more physical symptoms that cause significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other areas of functioning. When a patient exhibits excessive focus on their symptoms, often accompanied by persistent thoughts about the seriousness of those symptoms, it aligns with the features of somatic symptom disorder.

In the case of someone who is concerned about having meningitis despite medical evaluations showing no signs of the illness, their behavior reflects an inability to adjust their concerns in response to negative tests. This can lead to increased medical consultations and testing in an effort to find reassurance, which is a hallmark of somatic symptom disorder. The focus is on the persistent worry regarding health, surpassing typical concerns that may arise even in the context of a very real threat.

Other disorders mentioned have different characteristics. For instance, illness anxiety disorder involves a preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious illness but may not include the prominent physical symptoms that are central to somatic symptom disorder. Anxiety disorder can encompass a wider range of symptoms and does not specifically address the physical complaints and behaviors of seeking continual reassurance through testing. Conversion disorder focuses on neurological symptoms that