Being dissatisfied with one's appearance is normal, but Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is something different. Someone with BDD is preoccupied with their appearance, is excessively self-conscious and experiences marked distress as a result. As a group, individuals with BDD have high rates of suicide, psychiatric hospitalisation and unemployment. They are often housebound or socially isolated and have great difficulties with relationships. Body Dysmorphic Disorder: A Treatment Manual is the first to provide both an overview of the current knowledge of BDD and a framework for appropriate treatment of the condition using cognitive behaviour therapy and medication. Owing to a lack of research, BDD is often misdiagnosed and treated inappropriately. Patients frequently mask their main condition and present with symptoms of depression, social phobia, or obsessive-compulsive disorder, resulting in treatment with misdirected therapies and inappropriate anti-psychotic medication.
Ideal for practitioners in clinical psychology, psychiatry and medicine, Body Dysmorphic Disorder: A Treatment Manual furthers our understanding of the condition and provides practical advice on its assessment and treatment.