In Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), a person who looks normal is obsessively preoccupied with some imagined defect in appearance (imagined ugliness). People with BDD complain of persistent, intrusive and horrible thoughts about their appearance, and they engage in such compulsive behavior as repeatedly looking in mirror to check their physical features. BDD and OCD also have approximately the same age of onset and run the same course. 

 

SYMPTOMS

1.       Mirror checking.

2.       Excessive grooming.

3.       Skin Picking.

4.       Reassurance Seeking.

5.       Comparing his/ her appearance with that of others.

6.       Concerns with body fat.

7.       Concerns with body weight.

8.       Preoccupied with the idea that body build is too small or insufficient muscular. 

 

CAUSES

BDD was thought to represent a psychotic delusional state because the affected individuals were unable to realize even for a fleeting moment, that their ideas were irrational. People with BDD also have" ideas of reference", which means they think everything that goes on in their world somehow is related to them- in this case to their imagined defect. This disorder can cause considerable disruption in the patient's life. Many patients with severe cases become housebound for fear of showing themselves to other people

 

TREATMENT

The two different type of BDD are delusional and non delusional type. The delusional type is more severe and found in less educated patients. Both types respond equally well to treatments for BDD and that the delusional group does not respond to drug treatments for Psychotic Disorders. More significantly, there are two, and only two, treatments for BDD with any evidence of effectiveness, and these treatments are the same found effective in OCD. Drugs that block the reuptake of serotonin, such as clomipramine (Anafranil) and Fluvoxamine (Luvox), fluoxetine ( prozac) provide relief to some people. The type of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy has been successful with OCD. Mostly seek out plastic surgery as a remedy.

Find Treatment Program here

REFERENCE