Body dysmorphic disorder

With a point prevalence of 0.7-2.4% in the general population body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a relatively common disorder. The main characteristic of BDD is a preoccupation with a defect in external appearance. The defect, however, is either imagined or it is so slight that the preoccupation is extremely exaggerated. This preoccupation with an imagined or slight physical defect can cause significant distress or impairment in daily functioning. Cognitive-behavioral models referring to the etiology and to the maintenance of the disorder have been developed. Recently more research has been focused on BDD and there are now also some diagnostic instruments in the German language that can be applied for screening and disorder-specific diagnostics. Based on the current state of knowledge this article offers a description of clinical symptoms, refers to the etiology of the disorder and to diagnostic options and points out the principles of cognitive-behavioral and pharmacological treatment.