title: Body dysmorphic disorder: history and curiosities.
abstract: Body dysmorphic disorder is a chronic psychiatric disorder characterized by excessive preoccupation with an absent or minimal physical deformity. It causes severe distress and impairs normal functioning. In the last centuries, this disorder has been mentioned in the medical literature by important mental health practitioners by different names, such as "dysmorphophobia" or "dermatologic hypochondriasis". However, not until the last century was it included among the obsessive-compulsive disorders, although its classification has changed over time.Patients with body dysmorphic disorder constantly seek cosmetic treatments in order to improve their physical appearance, which more often deteriorates their mental condition. The high prevalence of psychiatric disorders in cosmetic medical practice has led in this field of study to the new science "cosmetic psychodermatology". This paper presents a summary of important facts about body dysmorphic disorder and its description throughout the history of medicine.
authors.affiliation: Centro Studi per la Ricerca Multidisciplinare e Rigenerativa, Università Degli Studi "G. Marconi", Rome, Italy. k.franca@med.miami.edu.|Department of Dermatology & Cutaneous Surgery, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Institute for Bioethics & Health Policy, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1600 NW 10th Ave 1140, 33136, Miami, FL, USA. k.franca@med.miami.edu.
authors.forename: Katlein
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4286-7169
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: França
authors.affiliation: University B.I.S. Group of Institutions, Punjab Technical University, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Roccia
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology & Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: ALHarbi
authors.affiliation: Medical Institute, Ministry of the Interior, Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Georgi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tchernev
authors.affiliation: Onkoderma-Policlinic for dermatology and dermatologic surgery, Sofia, Bulgaria.|Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chokoeva
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, University of Rome G. Marconi, Rome, Italy.|Centro Studi per la Ricerca Multidisciplinare Rigenerativa, University of Rome G. Marconi, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Torello
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Physics, Sub-nuclear and Radiation, G. Marconi University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fioranelli
mesh_terms: D057215:Body Dysmorphic Disorders / Q000266:history*; D003357:Cosmetic Techniques / Q000266:history*; D003880:Dermatology / Q000266:history*; D005060:Europe; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000266:history*; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000266:history*; D014481:United States
keywords: Body dysmorphic disorder; Cosmetic Psychodermatology; Dermatopsychiatry; History; Psychodermatology