Health Review - Body Dysmorphic Disorder Bdd
PART A – Health Review What is a health concern? Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a severe but relatively common psychiatric somatoform disorder that is associated with impairment in functioning and a markedly poor quality of life is (Barlow, 2005). BDD sufferers are characterized by an obsessive concern with a part of their physical appearance that they deem to be ‘flawed’ or ‘deformed’, even when the perceived flaw is actually minimal or non-existent (Grant et al, 2001). The preoccupation causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, academic, or role functioning (Medicinenet, 2008). The social implications of the illness results in patients suffering from emotional depression, anxiety, social withdrawal or social isolation and avoiding social interactions and intimate relationships for fear of ridicule and humiliation in regards to their appearance (Grant et al, 2001). BDD patients experience unusually high levels of stress, diminished concentration and productivity, which more often then not results in sufferers dropping out of school or ceasing employment (Perugi et al, 1998). Because of an intense fear of confronting their insecurity, patients can become secretive and reluctant to seek help and instead believe that fixing the perceived ‘deformity’ is the only option to achieve internal contentment (Phillips, 2004). BDD is often misconceived as a vanity-driven obsession with approximately 76% of parents with children that have been diagnosed are under the impression that their child is simply over conceited or even fabricating their condition (Phillips, 1996). A worrying concern is that sufferers do not believe they are more attractive than others, but instead feel that their perceived ‘defect’ is beyond hideous and feel that they should not be seen in public (Grant et al, 2001). Who is affected? (Relevant Stakeholders) Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) most commonly begins or occurs in adolescents and young