Post by playinwitfire on Dec 4, 2005 8:42:18 GMT -5
WHAT IS BODY DYSMORPHIC DISORDER?
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a condition that involves an intense preoccupation with a particular aspect(s) of physical appearance. Although individuals can become preoccupied with any aspect of their appearance, concern with facial features is the most common. Patients may complain, for example, that their nose is too large nose, their hairline is receding, or they have facial blemishes.
(DSM-IV) provides the following criteria for diagnosis of BDD:
o Preoccupation with an imagined defect in appearance. If a slight physical anomaly is present, the person's concern is markedly excessive.
o The preoccupation causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning.
o The preoccupation is not better accounted for by another mental disorder, such as anorexia nervosa.
Recent research has provided evidence that BDD can be conceptualized as an "obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorder." The obsessive-compulsive spectrum refers to a series of major psychiatric conditions defined by the presence of obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are intrusive ideas, thoughts, or images that cause much anxiety and distress. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce the anxiety produced by obsessions. In the case of BDD, patients experience intrusive negative thoughts related to their appearance and perform many behaviors in order to cope with the imagined defect, such as repeated mirror checking. Other disorders that seem to fit into the spectrum include: obsessive compulsive disorder, trichotillomania, compulsive orective mutilative snydrome, self mutilation, hypochondriasis, anorexia nervosa, and Tourette's snydrome.
2nd article:
Body Dysmorphic Disorder, (BDD) is listed in the DSM-IV under somatization disorders, but clinically, it seems to have similarities to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
BDD is a preoccupation with an imagined physical defect in appearance or a vastly exaggerated concern about a minimal defect. The preoccupation must cause significant impairment in the individual’s life. The individual thinks about his or her defect for at least an hour per day.
The individual’s obsessive concern most often is concerned with facial features, hair or odor. The disorder often begins in adolescence, becomes chronic and leads to a great deal of internal suffering.
The person may fear ridicule in social situations, and may consult many dermatologists or plastic surgeons and undergo painful or risky procedures to try to change the perceived defect. The medical procedures rarely produce relief. Indeed they often lead to a worsening of symptoms. BDD may limit friendships. Obsessive ruminations about appearance may make it difficult to concentrate on schoolwork.
Other behaviors that may be associated with BDD
* Frequent glancing in reflective surfaces
* Skin picking
* Avoiding mirrors
* Repeatedly measuring or palpating the defect
* Repeated requests for reassurance about the defect.
* Elaborate grooming rituals.
* Camouflaging some aspect of one’s appearance with one’s hand, a hat, or makeup.
* Repeated touching of the defect
* Avoiding social situations where the defect might be seen by others.
* Anxiety when with other people.
BDD tends to be chronic and can lead to social isolation, school dropout major depression, unnecessary surgery and even suicide.
After reading this I'm thinking I might have compulsive skin picking as a sympton of BDD rather than OCD as I don't experience the anxiety of something bad happening with OCD. I feel the preoccupation is more with the defect that is my skin. However I read that the treatments for OCD work the same for skin picking in BDD. I constantly check the mirrors and spend lots of money and time on rectifying my appearance and have a very high almost unhuman standard of beauty and flawlessness i wish to reach. I was picked on at school because of slight blemishes but the 'acne' and the bullying got worse as i started to pick it more (i was trying to pick it off) and comments were made by my family which may have triggered it. I was also picked on for having apparent 'hairy arms and a tash' sounds funny to me now but i cant stop obsessing about hair. I plucked my hairline and used hair removal creams to both neaten the line of hair and to try and expose some perfect skin underneath. I also remove hair off my arms and pluck my hands. Im also convinced that my face has an odd shape that it is squashed on one side but my best friend says there is no difference. I swear my face is unsymmetrical. Im constantly trying to line up my eyebrows to even it out. I have this fantasy that one day i will prove how beautiful and undefeatable i am and that they'll all turn around and eat their words. The sad truth is, which i cant admit to myself, is that i can never do this as their not around anymore so i seem to assign this onto other ppl. Like in college there are certain ppl i go out of my way to impress and there are a lot of them who are strangers i think i will show them up for thinking im an average minger next time they see me I'll be stunning. I mean it soumds fuckin nuts sayin that now!! How does anyone else relate to this?
x-Jess-x
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a condition that involves an intense preoccupation with a particular aspect(s) of physical appearance. Although individuals can become preoccupied with any aspect of their appearance, concern with facial features is the most common. Patients may complain, for example, that their nose is too large nose, their hairline is receding, or they have facial blemishes.
(DSM-IV) provides the following criteria for diagnosis of BDD:
o Preoccupation with an imagined defect in appearance. If a slight physical anomaly is present, the person's concern is markedly excessive.
o The preoccupation causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning.
o The preoccupation is not better accounted for by another mental disorder, such as anorexia nervosa.
Recent research has provided evidence that BDD can be conceptualized as an "obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorder." The obsessive-compulsive spectrum refers to a series of major psychiatric conditions defined by the presence of obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are intrusive ideas, thoughts, or images that cause much anxiety and distress. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce the anxiety produced by obsessions. In the case of BDD, patients experience intrusive negative thoughts related to their appearance and perform many behaviors in order to cope with the imagined defect, such as repeated mirror checking. Other disorders that seem to fit into the spectrum include: obsessive compulsive disorder, trichotillomania, compulsive orective mutilative snydrome, self mutilation, hypochondriasis, anorexia nervosa, and Tourette's snydrome.
2nd article:
Body Dysmorphic Disorder, (BDD) is listed in the DSM-IV under somatization disorders, but clinically, it seems to have similarities to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
BDD is a preoccupation with an imagined physical defect in appearance or a vastly exaggerated concern about a minimal defect. The preoccupation must cause significant impairment in the individual’s life. The individual thinks about his or her defect for at least an hour per day.
The individual’s obsessive concern most often is concerned with facial features, hair or odor. The disorder often begins in adolescence, becomes chronic and leads to a great deal of internal suffering.
The person may fear ridicule in social situations, and may consult many dermatologists or plastic surgeons and undergo painful or risky procedures to try to change the perceived defect. The medical procedures rarely produce relief. Indeed they often lead to a worsening of symptoms. BDD may limit friendships. Obsessive ruminations about appearance may make it difficult to concentrate on schoolwork.
Other behaviors that may be associated with BDD
* Frequent glancing in reflective surfaces
* Skin picking
* Avoiding mirrors
* Repeatedly measuring or palpating the defect
* Repeated requests for reassurance about the defect.
* Elaborate grooming rituals.
* Camouflaging some aspect of one’s appearance with one’s hand, a hat, or makeup.
* Repeated touching of the defect
* Avoiding social situations where the defect might be seen by others.
* Anxiety when with other people.
BDD tends to be chronic and can lead to social isolation, school dropout major depression, unnecessary surgery and even suicide.
After reading this I'm thinking I might have compulsive skin picking as a sympton of BDD rather than OCD as I don't experience the anxiety of something bad happening with OCD. I feel the preoccupation is more with the defect that is my skin. However I read that the treatments for OCD work the same for skin picking in BDD. I constantly check the mirrors and spend lots of money and time on rectifying my appearance and have a very high almost unhuman standard of beauty and flawlessness i wish to reach. I was picked on at school because of slight blemishes but the 'acne' and the bullying got worse as i started to pick it more (i was trying to pick it off) and comments were made by my family which may have triggered it. I was also picked on for having apparent 'hairy arms and a tash' sounds funny to me now but i cant stop obsessing about hair. I plucked my hairline and used hair removal creams to both neaten the line of hair and to try and expose some perfect skin underneath. I also remove hair off my arms and pluck my hands. Im also convinced that my face has an odd shape that it is squashed on one side but my best friend says there is no difference. I swear my face is unsymmetrical. Im constantly trying to line up my eyebrows to even it out. I have this fantasy that one day i will prove how beautiful and undefeatable i am and that they'll all turn around and eat their words. The sad truth is, which i cant admit to myself, is that i can never do this as their not around anymore so i seem to assign this onto other ppl. Like in college there are certain ppl i go out of my way to impress and there are a lot of them who are strangers i think i will show them up for thinking im an average minger next time they see me I'll be stunning. I mean it soumds fuckin nuts sayin that now!! How does anyone else relate to this?
x-Jess-x