Life Desk :
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a chronic psychiatric or mental disorder which makes people feel insecure about their appearance. They are obsessed with a minor flaw in their body or imagine that they have a flaw in their body, which may not be present at all. This makes them feel depressed. A person affected with BDD will try to do whatever is possible to fix the flaw, from make-up to exercises and even cosmetic surgery. But still they will not feel contented about their appearance.
BDD is also called dysmorphophobia which is the fear of having a deformity. BDD obsessions may generally be with a person’s face or any one particular part of the body. The obsession affects the patient’s personal life making it difficult to concentrate on studies or his career. Anxiety and depression can also follow due to persistent negative thoughts. The patient may avoid socializing to protect his defects from others, and may even contemplate suicide.
Body dysmorphic disorder is a major psychological disorder not caused by any particular reason. It usually starts during adolescence and can affect both males and females. Like most other mental illnesses, it may be a result of a combination of factors such as:
Abnormalities in the levels of certain chemicals in the brain
Heredity, where biological family members may have at least one gene associated with BDD.
The symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder widely vary from person to person. Individuals affected by BDD are generally obsessed with certain body parts or changes in their eyes, hair, and nose, among others. Some examples of their obsession include:
Large noticeable moles or scars on the body
Increased growth in facial and body hairs
Baldness or fewer hairs on the head
Size or shape of genitalia
Breast size
Less muscle growth
Shape of the face or another body part
Acne or pimples
An individual affected with BDD may show these signs:
Repetitive checking of minor or imagined flaws
Avoiding mirrors
Avoiding taking photos of self
Repetitive grooming activities such as shaving, combing hair, etc.
Comparing appearances with others
Wearing excessive make-up to camouflage the defects
Excessive changing of clothes
Undergoing cosmetic surgeries
An individual with BDD is extremely preoccupied with the imagined or minor flaw. This result in significant distress or problems in personal, professional and social life of the individual.
Body dysmorphic disorder is generally diagnosed by doctors using certain tests. These tests include both medical and psychological tests that help in pinpointing the disorder.
Physical examination and laboratory tests are used to diagnose any other condition that may be contributing to BDD.
A psychological examination will help more clearly to diagnose the exact condition and to understand its severity. It also helps to identify any associated psychiatric illness, if present.
Treatment used for body dysmorphic disorder may include medication and cognitive behavioral therapy. Medication treatment is usually necessary only for more severely ill and suicidal patients.
Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on several aspects which include:
Making an individual to be aware of his feelings, thoughts and behavior
Encouraging the individual to feel good about himself / herself
Eradicating negative thoughts
Teaching to socialize with others
Establishing a positive environment using psychotherapy
Medication used for BDD
The most common form of medication given for BDD patients are from a group of drugs called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). Some common drugs in this group include citalopram, fluoxetine (Prozac), etc. In some cases, a tricyclic antidepressant called clomipramine is also used to treat BDD. Though these drugs are effective and are commonly being used, they are not approved by the FDA for this purpose.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
SSRIs are antidepressant medications that have been proved to be effective for BDD.
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a chronic psychiatric or mental disorder which makes people feel insecure about their appearance. They are obsessed with a minor flaw in their body or imagine that they have a flaw in their body, which may not be present at all. This makes them feel depressed. A person affected with BDD will try to do whatever is possible to fix the flaw, from make-up to exercises and even cosmetic surgery. But still they will not feel contented about their appearance.
BDD is also called dysmorphophobia which is the fear of having a deformity. BDD obsessions may generally be with a person’s face or any one particular part of the body. The obsession affects the patient’s personal life making it difficult to concentrate on studies or his career. Anxiety and depression can also follow due to persistent negative thoughts. The patient may avoid socializing to protect his defects from others, and may even contemplate suicide.
Body dysmorphic disorder is a major psychological disorder not caused by any particular reason. It usually starts during adolescence and can affect both males and females. Like most other mental illnesses, it may be a result of a combination of factors such as:
Abnormalities in the levels of certain chemicals in the brain
Heredity, where biological family members may have at least one gene associated with BDD.
The symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder widely vary from person to person. Individuals affected by BDD are generally obsessed with certain body parts or changes in their eyes, hair, and nose, among others. Some examples of their obsession include:
Large noticeable moles or scars on the body
Increased growth in facial and body hairs
Baldness or fewer hairs on the head
Size or shape of genitalia
Breast size
Less muscle growth
Shape of the face or another body part
Acne or pimples
An individual affected with BDD may show these signs:
Repetitive checking of minor or imagined flaws
Avoiding mirrors
Avoiding taking photos of self
Repetitive grooming activities such as shaving, combing hair, etc.
Comparing appearances with others
Wearing excessive make-up to camouflage the defects
Excessive changing of clothes
Undergoing cosmetic surgeries
An individual with BDD is extremely preoccupied with the imagined or minor flaw. This result in significant distress or problems in personal, professional and social life of the individual.
Body dysmorphic disorder is generally diagnosed by doctors using certain tests. These tests include both medical and psychological tests that help in pinpointing the disorder.
Physical examination and laboratory tests are used to diagnose any other condition that may be contributing to BDD.
A psychological examination will help more clearly to diagnose the exact condition and to understand its severity. It also helps to identify any associated psychiatric illness, if present.
Treatment used for body dysmorphic disorder may include medication and cognitive behavioral therapy. Medication treatment is usually necessary only for more severely ill and suicidal patients.
Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on several aspects which include:
Making an individual to be aware of his feelings, thoughts and behavior
Encouraging the individual to feel good about himself / herself
Eradicating negative thoughts
Teaching to socialize with others
Establishing a positive environment using psychotherapy
Medication used for BDD
The most common form of medication given for BDD patients are from a group of drugs called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). Some common drugs in this group include citalopram, fluoxetine (Prozac), etc. In some cases, a tricyclic antidepressant called clomipramine is also used to treat BDD. Though these drugs are effective and are commonly being used, they are not approved by the FDA for this purpose.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
SSRIs are antidepressant medications that have been proved to be effective for BDD.
