Body dysmorphia Dr Rob Hicks Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a preoccupation with the appearance of a certain part of the body.

In this article

What causes it? What are the symptoms?

Who's affected? What's the treatment?

The cause of BDD is unclear, but it may be genetic or caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain.

People with BDD are excessively worried about a part of their body which they perceive to have a defect. They continue to believe this despite reassurances about their appearance.

Any area of the body may be involved in BDD, but the face is the most common.

A person with BDD may:

• Wear excessive make-up or heavy clothing to hide their perceived defect
• Repeatedly look in the mirror and seek reassurance about their appearance
• Frequently touch or measure the perceived defect
• Repeatedly pick at their skin or pluck their hair and eyebrows
• Feel anxious when around other people
• Seek medical treatment for the perceived defect
• Diet and exercise excessively

People with BDD may not be able to hold down a job and sometimes avoid socialising. They can also find it difficult to have relationships.

BDD is believed to affect at least one per cent of the UK population. It's more common in people with a history of depression and/or social phobia. It often occurs with obsessive-compulsive disorder or generalised anxiety disorder. It may also exist alongside an eating disorder.

It usually starts in adolescence when people are most sensitive about their appearance.

Treatment may include antidepressant medication, cognitive behavioural therapy or a combination of both. Antipsychotic medication is sometimes used.

It's difficult to prevent BDD from developing since its cause remains unclear.

This article was last medically reviewed by Dr Rob Hicks in November 2007