Body Disorders

Body Dysmorphic Disorders

• A preoccupation with some imagined defect in appearance
• Actual defect, if present, appears slight to others
• Comorbid with OCD 10%
• Course lifelong
• Onset – early adolescence through 20s
• Two treatments   * SSRIs   * Exposure and response prevention
• Diagnostic Criteria   * Preoccupation with one or more defects or flaws in physical appearance that are small or not observable to others   * Repetitive behaviors   * Significant distress   * Preoccupation with body not better explained
• Plastic Surgery   * Fully 76.4% had sought this type of treatment and 66% were receiving it   * 8% to 25% of all patients who request plastic surgery may have BDD

Trichotillomania and Excoriation

• Trichotillomania: The urge to pull out one’s own hair from anywhere on the body   * Leads to noticeable hair loss on scalp, eyebrows, arms, pubic region, etc.   * Also called hair pulling disorder
• Excoriation (skin picking disorder) is characterized by repetitive and compulsive picking of the skin, leading to tissue damage   * 1 to 5% prevalence rate   * Behavioral habit reversal treatment is most effective treatment   * Face is common target for picking

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