Body dysmorphic disorder. A survey of fifty cases.
BACKGROUND
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) consists of a preoccupation with an 'imagined' defect in appearance which causes significant distress or impairment in functioning. There has been little previous research into BDD. This study replicates a survey from the USA in a UK population and evaluates specific measures of BDD.


METHODS
Cross-sectional interview survey of 50 patients who satisfied DSM-IV criteria for BDD as their primary disorder.


RESULTS
The average age at onset was late adolescence and a large proportion of patients were either single or divorced. Three-quarters of the sample were female. There was a high degree of comorbidity with the most common additional Axis l diagnosis being either a mood disorder (26%), social phobia (16%) or obsessive-compulsive disorder (6%). Twenty-four per cent had made a suicide attempt in the past. Personality disorders were present in 72% of patients, the most common being paranoid, avoidant and obsessive-compulsive.


CONCLUSIONS
BDD patients had a high associated comorbidity and previous suicide attempts. BDD is a chronic handicapping disorder and patients are not being adequately identified or treated by health professionals.
Veale
D
D
Grovelands Priory Hospital, The Bourne, Southgate, London.
Boocock
A
A
Gournay
K
K
Dryden
W
W
Shah
F
F
Willson
R
R
Walburn
J
J
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D001828:Body Image; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012649:Self Concept