Body dysmorphic disorder can seriously impact on quality of life

About 5 million people in the US suffer from body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) which can have a huge effect on quality of life. Sufferers feel unwarranted anxiety about the way they look even to the extent of avoiding social contact. Most sufferers in fact look at least average but they have a severely distorted self-image which can cause them to respond abnormally to minor physical defects. For example, tiny scars or small hair loss may lead to excessive camouflaging of condition or avoidance of social contact. Some sufferers become suicidal. Treatment may involve exposure therapy where the sufferer is encouraged to take small steps to reenter the social world by starting with walking in public places etc. Children who have the condition may tend to avoid other children and spend a lot of time in front of the mirror.

Source: summary of medical news story as reported by ABC News

Related Disease Topics:

• Body dysmorphic disorder
• BDD
• Suicide

Related Symptom Topics:

• Anxiety about appearance
• Distorted self-image
• Social avoidance
• Excessive self examination

Article Source Details

About: Body dysmorphic disorder can seriously impact on quality of life

Date: 1 February 2005

Source: ABC News

URL: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Health/story?id=241884

Related Medical Topics

This summary article refers to the following medical categories:

• Psychological disorder
• Mental disorder
• Diagnosis and anxiety about appearance
• Diagnosis and distorted self-image
• Diagnosis and social avoidance
• Diagnosis and excessive self examination
• Diagnosis and body dysmorphic disorder
• Diagnosis and BDD
• Diagnosis and suicide

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