Specialist Treatment for Body Image at The London Centre

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

what is BDD?

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is an anxiety disorder that causes sufferers to spend a lot of time worrying about their appearance and to have a distorted view of how they look. BDD can be focussed on weight, shape, specific features (e.g. skin, hair, nose, face, hips) or overall attractiveness. In BDD the distress and anxiety experienced by a sufferer is extreme and excessive; in very severe cases it can prevent people from being able to leave their own house. A person with BDD will become so preoccupied with their body dissatisfaction that it starts to interfere with their social life, work or relationships.

 

 

who is affected by BDD?

BDD affects males and females equally, and can affect all age groups, but usually starts in adolescence. It is more common in people with a history of depression or social phobia and often occurs alongside OCD, generalised anxiety disorder, or sometimes an eating disorder.

 

 

BDD treatment

The most effective treatment for BDD is cognitive behavioural therapy with exposure response prevention (CBT with ERP). Where BDD is moderate or severe, people may benefit from being prescribed an SSRI (anti-depressant) alongside therapy.