While hypochondria and OCD are similar in a lot of instances, hypochondria is not a symptom of OCD. The underlying cause of both hypochondria and OCD is anxiety. With that said, many people will find that response behaviors to each condition are similar.
However, hypochondria and OCD have distinct differences that separate these two conditions from one another. The main difference between the two is the focus of the person's worry and anxiety.
For instance, individuals living with OCD generally have obsessions related to a variety of themes. Some common themes include contamination, religion, and personal harm.
In contrast, individuals living with hypochondria have a specific obsession related to their health. More specifically, these individuals are concerned about developing a serious medical condition despite reassurance from a medical professional.