title: Frequency of body dysmorphic disorder among patients with complaints of hair loss.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a psychiatric condition in which a disabling preoccupation with a non-existent or slight defect in appearance is the main symptom. Hair concerns are frequent in patients with BDD.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of BDD among patients with complaints of hair loss.
  
  
  METHODS
  A validated BDD questionnaire (BDDQ) was administered to 150 patients with complaints of hair loss and 150 control subjects who were selected from among general dermatology (GD) patients. Standard statistical tests were performed (descriptive analysis, chi-squared tests, non-parametric tests). Differences that achieved a P-value of <0.05 were considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among patients with complaints of hair loss, 42 of 142 subjects retained in the study (29.6%; 31 females and 11 males) were diagnosed with BDD. Furthermore, 25.6% of female patients and 52.4% of male patients were diagnosed with BDD (P = 0.013). Hair concerns were more common in males than in females (P < 0.05). In the GD group, four control subjects (2.7%, all female) were diagnosed with BDD; all of their concerns focused on the body and acne.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of BDD is about 10 times higher in patients with complaints of hair loss than it is in GD patients and is higher in males. Awareness of the condition and the referral of selected patients to mental health professionals is crucial.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Afyon Kocatepe University School of Medicine, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey.
authors.forename: Seval
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dogruk Kacar
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Afyon Kocatepe University School of Medicine, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey.
authors.forename: Pinar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ozuguz
authors.affiliation: Department ofPsychiatry, Afyon Kocatepe University School of Medicine, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey.
authors.forename: Erman
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bagcioglu
authors.affiliation: Department ofPsychiatry, Afyon Kocatepe University School of Medicine, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kerem Senol
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Coskun
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Afyon Kocatepe University School of Medicine, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey.
authors.forename: Serap
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Polat
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Izmir Katip Celebi University School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Semsettin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karaca
authors.affiliation: Department ofPsychiatry, Afyon Kocatepe University School of Medicine, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey.
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ozbulut
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000505:Alopecia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D057215:Body Dysmorphic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult