Understanding Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Understanding Body Dysmorphic Disorder: An Essential Guide by Katharine A. Phillips, Oxford University Press, 2009. 

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

There exists a common mental illness that is not widely known. It is called Body Dysmorphic Disorder. People suffering from it spend several hours a day worrying about their physical appearance, even though they look average. Sufferers rarely believe that they are suffering from a mental illness. Almost always, they believe that they have a major physical flaw. If they seek medical help, it is almost always surgical in nature. Sufferers are often afraid of social situations, because they fear ridicule or disgust. It is not their overall appearance that these people worry about. Instead, they focus on one particular imaginary defect.

Recognition by Psychiatry

Body Dysmorphic Disorder has been recognized by psychiatry only since 1987. It is classified as a type of hypochondriasis. The incidence in the U.S. population is 1-2 %. The disorder is well known in Japan, where it often concerns eyes and eyelids.

Imaginary Defects

Skin defects, such as pimples, scars and varicose veins, are the most common worry. Many sufferers worry about the pores on their noses being too large. Sufferers also worry about their hair, in particular, whether it is falling out. Sufferers spend a great deal of time checking themselves in the mirror and engage in excessive grooming. Sufferers also worry about not being symmetrical, about one side being larger than the other. Women worry about the size of their breasts, even if their breasts are a normal size. Men often worry that they are not muscular enough. This is called muscle dysmorphia or the Adonis complex.