Body dysmorphic disorder and life-style drugs. Overview and case report with finasteride.
The body dysmorphic disorder is the repeated preoccupation with a minimal or non-evident defect and includes a wide spectrum of imagined defects in appearance. These patients present themselves in every clinical practice and are extraordinarily difficult to treat. The focus of the preoccupation concerns head, face, chest and the genital area. Following the introduction of the new "life-style" drug, finasteride, we observed a dramatic increase in the number of patients suffering from body dysmorphic disorder attending our clinic for skin diseases in Erfurt. These patients frequently contact their doctor demanding specifically for prescription of a particular life-style drug. However, there is no indication for using life-style drugs for the treatment of a body dysmorphic disorder. The appropriate treatment includes psychotherapy and psychopharmacological treatment.
Harth
W
W
Clinic for Skin Diseases, Erfurt, Germany.
Linse
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R
D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005145:Face; D018120:Finasteride / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005835:Genitalia; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D011613:Psychotherapy; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018120:Finasteride