title: Body dysmorphic disorder: a guide for primary care physicians.
abstract: Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), a preoccupation with an imagined or slight defect in appearance, is a relatively common psychiatric disorder that often presents to nonpsychiatric physicians. Body dysmorphic disorder is associated with marked impairment in functioning, notably poor quality of life, and a high suicide attempt rate. Most patients seek and receive surgery or nonpsychiatric medical or dermatologic treatment, often with a perceived poor outcome despite an objectively acceptable result. In contrast, psychiatric treatment, serotonin-reuptake inhibitors and cognitive-behavioral therapy, often are effective. This clinically focused review describes the clinical features and prevalence of BDD, the disorder's treatment response, how to recognize and diagnose BDD, and practical suggestions for primary care physicians who encounter these often difficult-to-treat patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island, USA. Katharine_Phillips@brown.edu
authors.forename: Katharine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Raymond G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Dufresne
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors