| Body dysmorphic disorder | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Body dysmorphia, dysmorphic syndrome, dysmorphophobia |
 | |
| Cartoon of person with body dysmorphia looking in mirror and seeing a distorted image of themself | |
| Specialty | Psychiatry |
| Symptoms | Preoccupation with a perceived flaw in one’s appearance that is not really noticeable by others[1] |
| Complications | Suicide[2] |
| Usual onset | Late childhood[3] |
| Duration | Long term[1] |
| Types | Muscle dysmorphia, by proxy[1] |
| Risk factors | Child abuse, family history[1] |
| Differential diagnosis | Eating disorders, other obsessive-compulsive disorders, anxiety disorder, psychosis, normal concerns about appearance[1][3] |
| Treatment | Counselling, SSRIs[1] |
| Frequency | 0.7 to 2.4%[2] |
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a mental disorder characterized by a preoccupation with one or more perceived flaw in one’s appearance that are not really noticeable by others.[1] This results in repeated mirror checking, efforts to cover up the defect, picking at the defect, or excessive weight lifting.[1] Generally 3 to 8 hours per day is spent on such activities and other areas of functioning are impaired.[1] Complications may include suicidal thoughts or attempts.[2]
It is believed to be due to a combination of genetic, cultural, social, and psychological factors.[1] Risk factors include child abuse and a family history of the condition.[1] It is categorized as a type of obsessive–compulsive disorder.[3] Subtype include muscle dysmorphia, in which a person feels their muscles are too small and by proxy which involves preoccupation with a perceived flaw in someone else's appearance.[1]
Cosmetic surgery does not generally improve symptoms.[2] Counselling such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or metacognitive therapy may help.[1] Medications of the SSRI type may result in improvements in 50 to 80% of people.[1] Children may drop out of school due to the condition.[3]
BDD is estimated to affect 0.7 to 2.4% of the population.[2] It usually starts during late childhood.[3] Males and females are affected at similar frequencies, though the muscle dysmorphia type generally only occurs in males.[3][1] The condition was named in 1891 by Enrico Morselli and was first included in the DSM in the IIIrd edition in 1980.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Nicewicz, HR; Boutrouille, JF (January 2020). "Body Dysmorphic Disorder". PMID 32310361.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ a b c d e Bjornsson AS; Didie ER; Phillips KA (2010). "Body dysmorphic disorder". Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 12 (2): 221–32. PMC 3181960. PMID 20623926.
- ^ a b c d e f Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth ed.). American Psychiatric Association. 2013. pp. 242-247. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596.156852. ISBN 978-0-89042-555-8.