Body dysmorphic disorder

Abstract

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), also known as dysmorphophobia, is a relatively common disorder that consists of preoccupation with some imagined or slight defect in physical appearance. The preoccupation causes emotional distress and social impairment. Overvalued ideation and referential thinking are prevalent. BDD has a rich tradition in European psychiatry, but it first entered the official psychiatric nomenclature as a separate disorder in DSM-III-R in 1987. In the last 10 years it has received increasing empirical attention. BDD has been hypothesized to be related to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or may be conceptualized as hypochondriacal disorder. According to its body image disturbance it has been related to cenesthesia, eating disorders, and transsexualism. This paper presents the current level of awareness about BDD based on an analysis of the relevant literature. Empirical data are summarized and clinical signs are described. Varying therapies are critically reviewed.

Körperdysmorphe Störung

“…B. kann eine Rolle spielen, aber auch die Erfahrung, zurückgewiesen oder immer kritisiert zu werden. Oft fehlt es den Betroffenen an Selbstwertgefühl und an der Fähigkeit, Konflikte auszuhalten und zu lösen [1,7].…”

Psychosomatic disturbances and cosmetic surgery

“…The spectrum of presumed defects is highly variable and includes the quality and quantity of skin and skin appendages as well as asymmetry and disproportionality [24]. Patients often complain of presumed hair loss or hypertrichosis, pigmentation disorders, size of pores, vascular images, paleness, erythema or sweating as abnormalities.…”

Körperdysmorphe Störung*

“…Die Abgrenzung zu einem seltenen, aber spektakulären Syndrom soll nicht unerwähnt bleiben: der Body In-Tab. 1 Körperdysmorphe Störung in ICD-10 und DSM-IV (modifiziert nach Driesch et al [7] [20].…”