Sick with worry?: A look at the arc of hypochondria

From kings with ‘glass delusion’ to fretful names from the worlds of art and literature, the story of hypochondria is a long and riveting one.

In the late Middle Ages, a strange fear swept parts of Europe. People became convinced that their bodies were so fragile, they might shatter into thousands of pieces, like glass.

Among these people was the French king, Charles VI or Charles the Mad (1368-1422; his nickname came from bouts of paranoia that once led him to kill four of his knights).

King Charles became so convinced of his body’s fragility, he wrapped himself in layers of blankets, and slept on