Understanding Body Dysmorphia: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

What is body dysmorphia? Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) or body dysmorphia is a mental health disorder that can cause a person to become intensely preoccupied with perceived flaws (or multiple flaws) in their physical appearance. Consequently, someone with body dysmorphic disorder may develop a distorted perception of their looks and may feel that their imperfections are more prominent than others perceive them to be. This may lead these individuals to seek a body dysmorphia test to validate their negative self-image.

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Body dysmorphia is a severe condition that may become increasingly common as beauty standards evolve. The perception of reality can be distorted by factors such as edited Instagram photos, video filters on TikTok, and prevailing beliefs about body trends. There are numerous symptoms associated with this disorder, as well as treatment options for those affected by it.

Signs of Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Body dysmorphic disorder is defined as a mental health issue where an individual becomes excessively concerned with one or more perceived imperfections in their physical appearance, which others might not even notice.

Symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder can be similar to those found in other mental health conditions, including obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder, and severe depression. Muscle dysmorphia, a subtype of BDD, is characterized by an obsession with perceived inadequate muscle mass.

Some potential symptoms of BDD may include:

- Avoiding mirrors in daily life

- Becoming fixated on a specific body part

- Continually seeking reassurance about a perceived flaw

- Disbelieving others when they say you look fine

- Repeatedly engaging in behaviors like compulsively checking your reflection

- Concealing a perceived flaw with clothing or accessories

- Constantly comparing your appearance to others

- Skipping work, school, or social activities to avoid others seeing the perceived flaw

- Frequently grooming

- Consulting healthcare providers or cosmetic physicians about the perceived flaw

- Undergoing expensive procedures to eliminate the perceived flaw, such as plastic surgery or other cosmetic procedures

- Experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, or shame

- *Suicidal thoughts

*If you or someone you care about is experiencing suicidal thoughts, seek help immediately. You can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing or texting 988, available 24/7.

Factors that can contribute to the development of body dysmorphic disorder include genetic predisposition, personality traits, and environmental factors. Available treatment options for BDD may involve therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and medication like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Another method to learn more about dysmorphia is by using the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS). The Yale-Brown assessment was developed to measure the symptoms of individuals with OCD. It features a severity rating scale that helps mental health professionals determine the intensity of these symptoms. The scale was later updated to encompass symptoms related to body dysmorphia.

While you can review the assessment on your own, collaborating with a mental health professional to complete it may provide better insights and an official diagnosis. It is important to note that the quiz results should not replace an official evaluation by a medical expert. To prevent body dysmorphic disorder, promoting a positive body image and seeking professional assistance when facing persistent negative thoughts about one's appearance is crucial.

Barriers to Seeking Support for Body Dysmorphic Disorder

While body dysmorphic disorder may be prevalent, discussions surrounding treatment are often limited. A systematic review study analyzing treatment utilization found that factors such as shame, financial constraints, stigma, and skepticism about treatment effectiveness were among the primary reasons people with dysmorphic concerns might not seek help. Instead, many individuals may opt for procedures to correct their perceived imperfections, such as cosmetic surgery.

Nonetheless, pursuing support can be a courageous move toward alleviating distressing symptoms. Exploring ways to enhance self-compassion may prove to be a more favorable alternative to surgeries, self-harm, or concealing one's body. While you might feel powerless over these behaviors, a counselor can assist you in developing strategies and a treatment plan to tackle them. Remember, you are not alone, and help is accessible.

Treatment Options for BDD

For those dealing with body dysmorphic disorder, several treatment options have emerged in recent years, including the following.

Group Therapy

Experiencing body dysmorphia can be a lonely ordeal. Group therapy and support groups can serve as valuable resources in recovering from this disorder. Support groups may be available online or in person, catering to individuals of all ages, genders, sexualities, races, and backgrounds. Research highlights the importance of social support in maintaining overall well-being, and group therapy can help fulfill this social necessity.

Treatment Centers

For those dealing with body dysmorphic disorder, support can be sought through specialized treatment centers or programs. One such program is the Center for OCD and Related Disorders, operated by Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

This center employs various treatment approaches for body dysmorphic disorder and associated psychological conditions. These interventions may involve therapy with a clinical psychologist, medication, deep brain stimulation, and non-cosmetic surgery.

The center also serves as a hub for extensive research on body dysmorphic disorder. They investigate various clinical variables and perform statistical analyses (including post hoc analyses) to evaluate treatment effects. Additionally, they conduct studies to measure the negative impacts of certain factors that contribute to body dysmorphic disorder, such as smartphone usage and social media.

BDD-NET
BDD-NET, an online treatment program created by the Karolinska Institute (based on earlier treatment manuals), is specifically designed for individuals dealing with body dysmorphic disorder. While patients can engage in the exercises independently, the entire program is supervised by a therapist.

The modules and exercises in the program are grounded in the latest psychological models of cognitive-behavioral therapy, cognitive restructuring, as well as exposure and response prevention (ERP). BDD-NET was initially developed for individuals with body dysmorphia who might face challenges in accessing traditional cognitive-behavioral therapy.

A 2014 pilot study demonstrated the potential of BDD-NET. In the study, patients were initially classified based on the severity of their disorders, using the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) as the primary outcome measure. After 12 weeks of treatment with BDD-NET, the symptoms were assessed once again.

The main outcome of this study revealed that patients with mild or moderate symptoms of body dysmorphia experienced a significant decrease in the severity of their condition. The secondary outcomes and measures indicated that these patients also experienced reduced depressive symptoms and an improved health-related quality of life.

In 2016, a 12-week randomized controlled trial compared the effectiveness of BDD-NET to supportive therapy. BDD-NET proved to be as effective as other forms of therapy in some instances. Subsequently, numerous randomized controlled trials and studies have been conducted, consistently demonstrating the effectiveness of BDD-NET.

In several of these studies (including the two mentioned earlier), the inclusion criteria involved patients with body dysmorphia who were not receiving any other form of treatment. Participants taking medication, seeking psychological treatment, or known to have another mental health condition, such as bipolar disorder, anorexia nervosa, anxiety disorder, or psychosis, were excluded from the study. This implies that BDD-NET has been effective as a standalone treatment, although the results may be more complex for those experiencing additional mental health conditions.

If you're interested in exploring this program further, consider discussing it with your therapist or psychologist.

Online Therapy

Online therapy can be highly effective in addressing various mental health conditions, including body dysmorphic disorder. Generally, online therapy is more affordable than traditional therapy and offers greater convenience when conducted from home. Online therapy can be beneficial and significantly impact one's life.

An online therapist can assist you in managing your BDD symptoms and create a customized treatment plan. They might also help you address adverse events that could have impacted your body image. With time, you could experience improvements in self-esteem and self-compassion. If you're interested in exploring this form of treatment, consider joining a platform like ReachLink, which provides a vast database of experienced and licensed mental health counselors.

Key Points

If you believe you might be struggling with body dysmorphic disorder or another mental health issue, remember that you are not alone. To obtain a diagnosis for body dysmorphic disorder, it's essential to consult with a mental health professional who can accurately evaluate your symptoms. Upon receiving a correct diagnosis, there are numerous treatment options available to help you address these concerns.

To address your body dysmorphic disorder, consider registering with an online therapy platform or reaching out to a therapist or treatment center near you. If you are dealing with a concurrent eating disorder along with body dysmorphic disorder, search for resources and support tailored for individuals coping with both conditions.