Synonyms
Dysmorphia
Definition
Previously known a dysmorphia, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)-related condition characterized by a preoccupation with one or more perceived defects or flaws in one’s physical appearance that are not observable or appear slight to others. The disorder is manifested through repetitive behaviors such as excessive grooming, skin picking, or mental acts such as comparing one’s appearance to others, in efforts to assuage appearance concerns. Muscle dysmorphia is a subtype of BDD, in which there is a preoccupation with one’s body build being too small or insufficiently muscular.
Categorization
The disorder is classified with the obsessive-compulsive and related disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association 2013).
Current Knowledge
Epidemiology
National prevalence rates of BDD range from 1.7% to 2.4%, with higher rates in outpatient (1–8-6.7%) and...
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American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5 ®). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.
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Agyemang, A.A. (2018). Body Dysmorphic Disorder. In: Kreutzer, J.S., DeLuca, J., Caplan, B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57111-9_9178
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57111-9_9178
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