What Is Dysmorphophobia?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsDiagnosisCausesTypesTreatmentCopingFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Symptoms

Diagnosis

Causes

Types

Treatment

Coping

Frequently Asked Questions

Dysmorphophobia, or the fear of deformity, is the condition now known asbody dysmorphic disorder (BDD).BDD is asomatoform disorderin which people imagine and focus on perceived bodily imperfections.​

Body dysmorphophobia (BDD) is a broad term that encompasses multiple specific fears. Some people are afraid of becoming deformed or disfigured; others fear those who have a disfiguring condition. Some expectant parents worry that their child will be born with a deformity.

Some people with this fear focus on perceived imperfections in many areas of the body; others focus on a single part. Common areas of concern include facial features, body symmetry, hair, and muscularity.

Symptoms of Dysmorphophobia

People with dysmorphophobia often experience intrusive thoughts related to a perceived deformity or a fear of one. For example, they might become excessively concerned or distressed about a scar or mole. Such thoughts not only intrude unexpectedly but also lead to significant distress and changes in behavior.

Some signs and symptoms include:

Diagnosis of Dysmorphophobia

An Italian psychiatrist first described dysmorphophobia in 1891.This condition was first included in the third edition of the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” but was later changed to body dysmorphic disorder in a later revision.

Your doctor will assess your symptoms and rule out other conditions before diagnosing dysmorphophobia. Other conditions that may cause similar symptoms include:

Causes of Dysmorphophobia

The causes of dysmorphophobia are not fully understood, but several factors are believed to play a role. These include:

Body dysmorphic disorder commonly co-occurs with other mental health conditions. For example, studies have found that around 60% of people with BDD also develop ananxiety disorderat some point during their lives.

Types of Dysmorphophobia

Body dysmorphic disorder usually involves some common areas of concern, although it can focus on specific parts of the body. More general worries about imperfections and the fear of deformity are common, too. Symptoms often center on:

In some cases, the fear of deformity in others is based on medical fears. People who havegerm phobia,hypochondria, ornosophobiamay be at particular risk for this type of fear, but it can occur in anyone.

Treatment for Dysmorphophobia

People who have dysmorphophobia commonly seek treatment from plastic surgeons, dermatologists, dentists, hairstylists, and other professionals rather than mental health providers to fix their perceived physical problems.

However, treatments are available that can relieve the symptoms of BDD. If you develop an unhealthy obsession with your appearance or that of a loved one, seek professional assistance.

Like most phobias, dysmorphophobia responds well to a variety ofmental health treatments. Left untreated, the phobia can worsen, gradually limiting your daily life and preventing you from connecting with others.

Psychotherapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)is one approach frequently used to treat body dysmorphic disorder.CBT helps people learn how to identify the automatic negative thoughts that contribute to their fears of deformity and imperfections. Once they recognize these thoughts, they then practice finding ways to replace those thoughts with more positive, realistic ones.

Medications

Health practitioners sometimes prescribe medications to help with symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder. These may include antidepressants such asselective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which have been shown to help reduce some symptoms of BDD.These tend to be most effective when used in conjunction with psychotherapy.

RecapPeople with dysmorphophobia often attempt to hide or fix their perceived flaws rather than seek treatment for their disorder. Psychotherapy and medication, however, can be effective.

Recap

People with dysmorphophobia often attempt to hide or fix their perceived flaws rather than seek treatment for their disorder. Psychotherapy and medication, however, can be effective.

Coping With Dysmorphophobia

If you are experiencing symptoms of dysmorphophobia, there are things that you can do that may make it easier to cope. Some strategies you might try include:

A Word From Verywell

Dysmorphophobia is often relieved through exposure and experience. When these fears center on deformities and disfigurement, learning more about them can help lessen symptoms of fear and anxiety.

For people experiencing body dysmorphic disorder, treatment is important to relieve the distress and intrusive thoughts that can interfere with normal function.

If you or someone you know are struggling with body dysmorphic disorder, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or someone you know are struggling with body dysmorphic disorder, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

10 of the Most Common Phobias

Dysmorphophobia can have a number of causes including differences in brain structure and chemistry, genetics, social pressure, bullying, and trauma. Evidence indicates that people with other mental health conditions such as anxiety are more likely to experience body dysmorphic disorder.

Learn More:Comparing OCD and BDD

In the general population, body dysmorphic disorder affects between 1.7% and 2.9% of all people.According to the International OCD Foundation, it is possible that more people have the condition but stigma may make people reluctant to reveal symptoms and seek treatment.Among people seeking general cosmetic surgery, the prevalence is around 13.2%.

10 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Singh AR, Veale D.Understanding and treating body dysmorphic disorder.Indian J Psychiatry. 2019;61(Suppl 1):S131-S135. doi:10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_528_18Bjornsson AS, Didie ER, Phillips KA.Body dysmorphic disorder.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2010;12(2):221-232. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2010.12.2/abjornssonArienzo D, Leow A, Brown JA, et al.Abnormal brain network organization in body dysmorphic disorder.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2013;38(6):1130‐1139. doi:10.1038/npp.2013.18Browne HA, Gair SL, Scharf JM, Grice DE.Genetics of obsessive-compulsive disorder and related disorders.Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2014;37(3):319-335. doi:10.1016/j.psc.2014.06.002Mufaddel A, Osman OT, Almugaddam F, Jafferany M.A review of body dysmorphic disorder and its presentation in different clinical settings.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2013;15(4):PCC.12r01464. doi:10.4088/PCC.12r01464Harrison A, Fernández de la Cruz L, Enander J, Radua J, Mataix-Cols D.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for body dysmorphic disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Clin Psychol Rev. 2016;48:43-51. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2016.05.007Hong K, Nezgovorova V, Hollander E.New perspectives in the treatment of body dysmorphic disorder.F1000Res. 2018;7:361. doi:10.12688/f1000research.13700.1Drüge M, Rafique G, Jäger A, Watzke B.Prevalence of symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder (Bdd) and associated features in Swiss military recruits: A self-report survey.BMC Psychiatry. 2021;21(1):294. doi:10.1186/s12888-021-03288-xInternational OCD Foundation.Prevalence of BDD.Veale D, Gledhill LJ, Christodoulou P, Hodsoll J.Body dysmorphic disorder in different settings: A systematic review and estimated weighted prevalence.Body Image. 2016;18:168-86. doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2016.07.003

10 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Singh AR, Veale D.Understanding and treating body dysmorphic disorder.Indian J Psychiatry. 2019;61(Suppl 1):S131-S135. doi:10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_528_18Bjornsson AS, Didie ER, Phillips KA.Body dysmorphic disorder.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2010;12(2):221-232. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2010.12.2/abjornssonArienzo D, Leow A, Brown JA, et al.Abnormal brain network organization in body dysmorphic disorder.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2013;38(6):1130‐1139. doi:10.1038/npp.2013.18Browne HA, Gair SL, Scharf JM, Grice DE.Genetics of obsessive-compulsive disorder and related disorders.Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2014;37(3):319-335. doi:10.1016/j.psc.2014.06.002Mufaddel A, Osman OT, Almugaddam F, Jafferany M.A review of body dysmorphic disorder and its presentation in different clinical settings.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2013;15(4):PCC.12r01464. doi:10.4088/PCC.12r01464Harrison A, Fernández de la Cruz L, Enander J, Radua J, Mataix-Cols D.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for body dysmorphic disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Clin Psychol Rev. 2016;48:43-51. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2016.05.007Hong K, Nezgovorova V, Hollander E.New perspectives in the treatment of body dysmorphic disorder.F1000Res. 2018;7:361. doi:10.12688/f1000research.13700.1Drüge M, Rafique G, Jäger A, Watzke B.Prevalence of symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder (Bdd) and associated features in Swiss military recruits: A self-report survey.BMC Psychiatry. 2021;21(1):294. doi:10.1186/s12888-021-03288-xInternational OCD Foundation.Prevalence of BDD.Veale D, Gledhill LJ, Christodoulou P, Hodsoll J.Body dysmorphic disorder in different settings: A systematic review and estimated weighted prevalence.Body Image. 2016;18:168-86. doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2016.07.003

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Singh AR, Veale D.Understanding and treating body dysmorphic disorder.Indian J Psychiatry. 2019;61(Suppl 1):S131-S135. doi:10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_528_18Bjornsson AS, Didie ER, Phillips KA.Body dysmorphic disorder.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2010;12(2):221-232. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2010.12.2/abjornssonArienzo D, Leow A, Brown JA, et al.Abnormal brain network organization in body dysmorphic disorder.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2013;38(6):1130‐1139. doi:10.1038/npp.2013.18Browne HA, Gair SL, Scharf JM, Grice DE.Genetics of obsessive-compulsive disorder and related disorders.Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2014;37(3):319-335. doi:10.1016/j.psc.2014.06.002Mufaddel A, Osman OT, Almugaddam F, Jafferany M.A review of body dysmorphic disorder and its presentation in different clinical settings.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2013;15(4):PCC.12r01464. doi:10.4088/PCC.12r01464Harrison A, Fernández de la Cruz L, Enander J, Radua J, Mataix-Cols D.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for body dysmorphic disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Clin Psychol Rev. 2016;48:43-51. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2016.05.007Hong K, Nezgovorova V, Hollander E.New perspectives in the treatment of body dysmorphic disorder.F1000Res. 2018;7:361. doi:10.12688/f1000research.13700.1Drüge M, Rafique G, Jäger A, Watzke B.Prevalence of symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder (Bdd) and associated features in Swiss military recruits: A self-report survey.BMC Psychiatry. 2021;21(1):294. doi:10.1186/s12888-021-03288-xInternational OCD Foundation.Prevalence of BDD.Veale D, Gledhill LJ, Christodoulou P, Hodsoll J.Body dysmorphic disorder in different settings: A systematic review and estimated weighted prevalence.Body Image. 2016;18:168-86. doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2016.07.003

Singh AR, Veale D.Understanding and treating body dysmorphic disorder.Indian J Psychiatry. 2019;61(Suppl 1):S131-S135. doi:10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_528_18

Bjornsson AS, Didie ER, Phillips KA.Body dysmorphic disorder.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2010;12(2):221-232. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2010.12.2/abjornsson

Arienzo D, Leow A, Brown JA, et al.Abnormal brain network organization in body dysmorphic disorder.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2013;38(6):1130‐1139. doi:10.1038/npp.2013.18

Browne HA, Gair SL, Scharf JM, Grice DE.Genetics of obsessive-compulsive disorder and related disorders.Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2014;37(3):319-335. doi:10.1016/j.psc.2014.06.002

Mufaddel A, Osman OT, Almugaddam F, Jafferany M.A review of body dysmorphic disorder and its presentation in different clinical settings.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2013;15(4):PCC.12r01464. doi:10.4088/PCC.12r01464

Harrison A, Fernández de la Cruz L, Enander J, Radua J, Mataix-Cols D.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for body dysmorphic disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Clin Psychol Rev. 2016;48:43-51. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2016.05.007

Hong K, Nezgovorova V, Hollander E.New perspectives in the treatment of body dysmorphic disorder.F1000Res. 2018;7:361. doi:10.12688/f1000research.13700.1

Drüge M, Rafique G, Jäger A, Watzke B.Prevalence of symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder (Bdd) and associated features in Swiss military recruits: A self-report survey.BMC Psychiatry. 2021;21(1):294. doi:10.1186/s12888-021-03288-x

International OCD Foundation.Prevalence of BDD.

Veale D, Gledhill LJ, Christodoulou P, Hodsoll J.Body dysmorphic disorder in different settings: A systematic review and estimated weighted prevalence.Body Image. 2016;18:168-86. doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2016.07.003

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