Psychology Facts

▼ Body Dysmorphia ▼

》Body Dysmorphia or BDD is A mental illness involving obsessive focus on a perceived flaw in appearance.

》Body dysmorphia is a mental health disorder, more specifically a type of anxiety disorder. Though it is commonly misinterpreted as an eating disorder.

》BDD most often develops in adolescents and teens, and research shows that it affects men and women almost equally.

》In the United States, BDD occurs in about 2.5% in males, and in 2.2 % of females. BDD often begins to occur in adolescents 12-13 years of age

》This disorder is also known as dysmorphophobia, or the fear of having a deformity. Informally, the condition is referred to as "imagined ugliness."

》Symptoms of Body Dysmorphia :

Extreme preoccupation with physical
appearance, or persistent belief that a minor or imagined flaw makes one "ugly"

Shame regarding appearance

Frequent examination in front of the mirror (or an aversion toward looking in the mirror)

Excessive grooming and use of cosmetics

Reassurance-seeking

Comparing appearance to other people

Refusal to appear in pictures

Desire to "correct flaws" with cosmetic surgery

Depression

Social anxiety

Significant distress or problems with age-appropriate functioning

》People with BDD can dislike any part of their body, although they often find fault with their hair, skin, nose, chest, or stomach.

》The causes of BDD are unclear, but certain biological and environmental factors may contribute to its development, including

genetic predisposition,

neurobiological factors such as malfunctioning of serotonin in the brain,

personality traits,

and life experiences (e.g. child maltreatment, sexual trauma, peer-abuse).

》To be diagnosed with BDD:

You must be abnormally concerned about a small or nonexistent body flaw

Your thoughts about your body flaw must be severe enough that they interfere with your ability to live normally

Other mental health disorders must be ruled out as a cause of your symptoms

》Doctors treat body dysmorphic disorder using one or more of the following:

Cognitive-behavioral therapy—this helps people think about their appearance more accurately

Habit reversal therapy—this helps people stop repeating actions such as skin picking

Antidepressant medicines

》Specific treatment for BDD will be determined by your healthcare provider based on the following:

The extent of the problem

Your age, overall health, and medical history

Your tolerance for specific medicines, procedures, or therapies

Expectations for the course of the disorder

The opinion of the healthcare providers involved in your care

Your opinion and preference