Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention, Complications

Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention, Complications

 

Body dysmorphic disorder or body dysmorphic disorder is a mental disorder characterized by symptoms in the form of excessive anxiety about weakness or lack of one's physical appearance.

Body dysmorphic disorder is more common in people aged 15-30 years. People with this condition often feel embarrassed and restless because they think they are bad, so they avoid various social situations. In addition, sufferers also often undergo plastic surgery to improve their appearance.

Body dysmorphic disorder is similar to an eating disorder in that it takes a negative view of physical appearance. However, anxiety in this disorder is not about weight and overall body shape, but rather physical deficiencies, such as wrinkled skin, hair loss, large thighs, or a flat nose.

Causes of Body Dysmorphic Disorder

The main cause of body dysmorphic disorder is not known with certainty. Even so, this condition is thought to arise due to a combination of the following factors:

• Genetics

According to research, body dysmorphic disorder is more common in people who have a family history of the disease. However, it is not certain whether this condition is inherited genetically or due to upbringing and the environment.

• Abnormalities of brain structure

Abnormalities in the structure of the brain or the compounds in it are thought to cause body dysmorphic disorder.

• Environment

Negative judgments from the environment on the sufferer's self-image, bad experiences or trauma in the past, can cause a person to experience body dysmorphic disorder.

In addition to the factors that cause the above, there are several conditions that can trigger the emergence of body dysmorphic disorder, including:

• Suffering from another mental disorder, such as an anxiety disorder or depression
• Having certain traits, such as perfectionism or low self-esteem
• Have parents or family who are overly critical of their appearance

Symptoms of Body Dysmorphic Disorder

People with body dysmorphic disorder have negative thoughts or feelings of anxiety about the lack of one or more body parts. Negative thoughts that can arise because the sufferer considers the shape of his body is not ideal. Parts of the body that sufferers are often worried about include:

• Face, for example because the nose is too snub
• Skin, for example due to wrinkles, acne, or wounds
• Hair, for example due to thinning hair, falling out, or going bald
• Breasts or genitals, for example because the penis is too small or the breasts are too big
• Legs, for example because of the large size of the thighs

There are several symptoms or behaviors that can be a sign that a person suffers from body dysmorphic disorder, including:

• Reflecting over and over for a long time
• Hiding limbs that are considered imperfect
• Asking other people to reassure him over and over again that his body shape flaws aren't too obvious
• Repeatedly measuring or touching areas of the body that are considered imperfect

Body dysmorphic disorder can also occur when excessive anxiety arises because you think your body is too small, too thin, or not muscular enough. Symptoms that can appear in this condition are:

• Exercising too often and for a long time
• Excessive consumption of nutritional supplements
• Abusing steroids

When to go to the doctor

People with body dysmorphic disorder can repeatedly consult their doctor to find out how to improve their appearance. However, such a goal is not quite right.

You should consult a doctor if you notice any inappropriate behavior in assessing appearance, especially if the behavior:

• Interfere with work, school performance, or relationships with others
• Eliminate the urge to go out in public and feel anxious when around other people

This condition can lead to severe depression and suicidal ideation.

Diagnosis of Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Body dysmorphic disorder is often difficult to detect, because many sufferers feel shy and tend to hide this disorder. However, doctors will usually refer patients who repeatedly ask for plastic surgery to a psychiatrist.

To find out the cause and provide appropriate treatment, the psychiatrist will assess the patient's mental condition by:

• Inquire about the history of medical conditions and social relationships of the patient and his family
• Conduct a psychological evaluation to determine the risk factors, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors associated with the patient's negative view of himself

Handling Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Treatment for body dysmorphic disorder is carried out with a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy and medication, as described below:

Cognitive behavioral therapy

This therapy aims to identify the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behavior. Through this therapy, patients are expected to develop the ability to overcome the problems they face.

Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on:

• Correcting false beliefs about the patient's physical weakness or shortcomings
• Minimizing compulsive behavior (performing an action over and over)
• Cultivate better attitudes and behaviors regarding self-image and physical appearance

Cognitive behavioral therapy can also be done in groups. Especially for cases of body dysmorphic disorder in children and adolescents, this behavior therapy needs to involve parents and families.

Drugs

Until now, no drug has been found to treat body dysmorphic disorder. However, serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants can be given to reduce obsessive thoughts and behaviors in patients.

This drug is prescribed by a doctor if behavioral therapy has not been able to overcome the disorder experienced by the patient, or if the symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder are getting worse. SSRI drugs can be given as a single therapy or in combination with other drugs and behavioral therapy.

If you want to stop taking SSRI drugs, the dose should be reduced gradually. Stopping the drug suddenly can make the symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder reappear.

Other medications your doctor may prescribe are antipsychotic medications, such as olanzapine and aripiprazole. Antipsychotic drugs can be given alone or in combination with SSRI drugs.

If cognitive behavioral therapy and administration of antidepressant drugs have not improved the patient's condition after 12 weeks, the psychiatrist can change the type of antidepressant medication.

In severe cases, the patient needs to be treated in a hospital, for example if he is unable to carry out daily activities or has the potential to endanger himself.

Complications of Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Complications that can arise in patients with body dysmorphic disorder include:

• Health problems related to repeated habits, such as pricking the skin
• Depression
• Obsessive compulsive disorder
• Drug abuse

Prevention of Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Prevention of the emergence of body dysmorphic disorder can be done by always applying the mindset of a healthy and realistic body shape. This can be done by parents and the closest people to support a positive body image.

To prevent complications of body dysmorphic disorder, early detection and treatment needs to be done as soon as possible. Therefore, consult a doctor if there are early symptoms of this condition.

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