Overview

This fact sheet from Swinburne University's Centre for Mental Health explains body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) - a condition causing severe distress about perceived physical flaws. It covers prevalence, causes, symptoms, and evidence-based treatments including SSRIs and cognitive-behavioral therapy.

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Key insights

Key Insights:

  1. BDD affects up to 2% of population with equal gender distribution
  2. Onset typically occurs in late adolescence during significant developmental changes
  3. Often co-occurs with social phobia, substance use, or eating disorders
  4. Results from complex interactions between genetics, psychology, and environment
  5. Involves repetitive behaviours like mirror checking and social avoidance
  6. Can lead to unnecessary cosmetic procedures and severe impairment
  7. SSRIs combined with CBT or ACT show strong evidence
  8. Novel treatments like visual retraining are being developed

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