Body Dysmorphic Disorder is a term that many people might have heard of but don’t understand. According to ScienceDaily.com, 30% of people with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) do suffer with an eating disorder as well. The DSM IV-TR #300.7 describes BDD as: patients become overly concerned, or at times convinced, that in some fashion or other they are misshapen or deformed, despite all evidence to the contrary.
People with BDD tend to fixate on extreme details. Rather than viewing a face as a whole, they would focus on the imperfections like a blemish or a slightly crooked nose. The impact of the disorder can be debilitating. Sufferers think obsessively about their appearance and engage in repetitive, time-consuming behaviors, such as checking their appearance in the mirror with every opportunity given. Many are too embarrassed to leave their house, thinking others see their “faults” as well. Some have repeated unnecessary plastic surgeries hoping to “fix” their problems, while others may become suicidal. BDD affects an estimated 2% of the population and is thought to be especially common in people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
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