Learn More About Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Diagnostic Criteria

A. Preoccupation with one or more perceived defects or flaws in physical appearance that are not observable or appear slight to others

B. At some point during the course of the disorder, the individual has performed repetitive behaviors (e.g., mirror checking, excessive grooming, skin picking, reassurance seeking) or mental acts (e.g., comparing his or her appearance with that of others) in response to the appearance concerns

C. The preoccupation is not better explained by concerns with body fat or weight in an individual whose symtoms meet diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder

Specify if:

With muscle dysmorphia: The individual is preoccupied with the idea that his or her body build is too small or insufficiently muscular. The specifier is used even if the individual is preoccupied with other body areas, which is often the case.

Specify if:

Indicate degree of insight regarding body dysmorphic disorder beliefs (e.g., “I look ugly” or “I looked deformed”)

With good or fair insight: The individual recognizes that the body dysmorphic disorder beliefs are defiantly or probably not true or that they may or may not be true

With poor insight: The individual thinks that the body dysmorphic disorder beliefs are probably true

With absent insight/delusional beliefs: The individual is completely convinced that the body dysmorphic disorder beliefs are true

The key feature to identifying someone with body dysmorphia is their hatred for a part of their body, dispite the popular belief to those around them, that the hate is unjust.

With body dysmorphia the individual feel like part of their body is insufficient, too big or too small, or ugly. This can be thoughts or feelings about any part of the body, not just about a person’s weight.

Sometimes people suffering with this severe body image disorder perform repetitive behaviors like mirror checking, to help them deal with the anxiety that they feel.

This diagnosis is different from anorexia or bulimia in that the person’s weight is not below recommended height or weight and food restriction is usually not an issues.

The exact cause of body dysmorphia is not known, however there are some major risk factors including:

• Having an anxiety disorder
• Poor self image
• Low self esteem
• Being bullied or teased about your weight as a child
• Using control as a way to cope with life stress

• Psychotherapy
• Medication from your primary care physician can help to control symptoms of paraphilia but are not considered a cure.
• For best results, a combination of medication and psychotherapy is recommended.
• Self Help (Try Our Self Help Program)
• Working with Our Coaches