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Imagined ugliness: a symptom which can become a disorder
Author(s) -
Castle David J,
Morkell Daniel
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2000.tb125602.x
Subject(s) - body dysmorphic disorder , comorbidity , psychiatry , depression (economics) , psychiatric comorbidity , population , psychology , pain disorder , serotonergic , clinical psychology , medicine , serotonin , chronic pain , receptor , environmental health , economics , macroeconomics
Concern regarding physical appearance is normal, but can sometimes reach an intensity which renders it a “disorder” (body dysmorphic disorder, or BDD). The rate of BDD in the general population is not clear, but sufferers are over‐represented in psychiatric populations and in those seeking cosmetic surgery. BDD shows extensive psychiatric comorbidity, including depression, social phobia, and obsessiv ompulsive disorder. BDD is treatable, with serotonergic antidepressants (eg, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and cognitive behavioural treatments being the most effective.