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List of All Topics
Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Introduction
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is characterized by an excessive preoccupation with a real or imagined defect in your physical appearance.
People with body dysmorphic disorder have a distorted or exaggerated view of how they look and are obsessed with actual physical characteristics or perceived flaws, such as a certain facial feature or imperfections of the skin. They often think of themselves as ugly or disfigured. People with body dysmorphic disorder often have problems controlling negative thoughts about their appearance, even when reassured by others that they look fine and that the minor or perceived flaws aren't noticeable or excessive.
Treatment for body dysmorphic disorder may involve a combined approach involving medication and talk therapy (psychotherapy). Antidepressant medications used along with cognitive behavior therapy can help people with body dysmorphic disorder manage the obsession and anxiety about their appearance, increase confidence in how they look, and obtain normalcy in their social and work lives.
Signs and symptoms
The signs and symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder include:
- Frequently comparing appearance with that of others.
- Repeatedly checking the appearance of the specific body part in mirrors or other reflective surfaces.
- Refusing to have pictures taken.
- Wearing excessive clothing, makeup and hats to camouflage the perceived flaw.
- Using hands or posture to hide the imagined defect.
- Frequently touching the perceived flaw.
- Picking at one's skin.
- Frequently measuring the imagined or exaggerated defect.
- Elaborate grooming rituals.
- Excessive researching about the perceived defective body part.
- Seeking surgery or other medical treatment despite contrary opinions or medical recommendations.
- Seeking reassurance about the perceived defect or trying to convince others that it's abnormal or excessive.
- Avoiding social situations in which the perceived flaw might be noticed.
- Feeling anxious and self-conscious around others (social phobia) because of the imagined defect.
Certain physical obsessions are common in a person with body dysmorphic disorder. These include:
- Overall size, shape or symmetry of a certain facial feature, such as size or shape of nose.
- Moles or freckles perceived as too large or noticeable.
- Acne and blemishes.
- Minor scars or skin abrasions.
- Too much facial or body hair.
- Baldness.
- Breast size.
- Muscles perceived as too small.
- Size or shape of genitalia.
Body dysmorphic disorder is a type of somatoform disorder. Somatoform disorders are characterized by physical symptoms that suggest a medical condition. However, a thorough medical evaluation doesn't reveal any underlying medical cause for the physical symptoms.
The cause of body dysmorphic disorder is unclear. However, researchers believe that a number of factors may be involved and that they can occur in combination, including:
- A chemical imbalance in the brain. An insufficient level of serotonin, one of your brain's chemical messengers involved in mood and pain, may contribute to body dysmorphic disorder. Although such an imbalance in the brain is unexplained, it may be hereditary.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder. Body dysmorphic disorder often occurs with obsessive-compulsive disorder, in which a person uncontrollably practices ritual behaviors that may literally take over his or her life. A history of or genetic predisposition to obsessive-compulsive disorder may make you more susceptible to BDD.
- An eating disorder. Body dysmorphic disorder also may be present with an eating disorder, such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, especially if it involves a weight-related part of the body, such as the waist, hips or thighs.
- Generalized anxiety disorder. Body dysmorphic disorder may accompany generalized anxiety disorder. This condition involves excessive worrying that disrupts your daily life, often causing exaggerated or unrealistic anxiety about life circumstances, such as a perceived flaw or defect in appearance, as in BDD. A history of or genetic predisposition to generalized anxiety disorder may make you more susceptible to body dysmorphic disorder.
- Psychological, behavioral or cultural factors. People from families of higher socioeconomic status or strict cultural standards may experience body dysmorphic disorder more often. Someone who feels that he or she must live up to unobtainable or unrealistically high expectations for personal appearance and success may be more prone to BDD.
Doctors often use a combination of medications and talk therapy (psychotherapy) to help people overcome body dysmorphic disorder:
- Antidepressants. A specific type of antidepressant called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may help lessen or alleviate the signs and symptoms of BDD. Depending on the severity of symptoms, your doctor may wish to consider using other medications, as well.
- Cognitive behavior therapy. This type of talk therapy identifies unhealthy, negative beliefs and behaviors and replaces them with healthy, positive ones. It's based on the idea that your own thoughts — not other people or situations — determine how you behave. The premise is that even if an unwanted situation hasn't changed, you can change the way you think and thus behave in a positive way. Cognitive behavior therapy can be effective in learning to manage the effects of BDD. Careful attention to your thoughts may be coupled with certain behavioral assignments, such as reducing the amount of time you check your appearance in the mirror, or increased exposure, such as going out in public more often.
Information obtained from National Institute of Health