Understanding the Spectrum of Body Dysmorphic Disorder Severity Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is characterized by a preoccupation with perceived flaws in physical appearance that are either nonexistent or slight to the observer. The severity of this disorder, however, exists on a wide continuum, ranging from mild distress that allows for relatively normal functioning to profound, […]
Core Diagnostic Criteria: Preoccupation with Perceived Flaws The defining feature of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is an intense, persistent preoccupation with one or more perceived defects or flaws in physical appearance that are either minor or entirely unobservable to others. This preoccupation goes far beyond typical vanity or concern about one’s looks; it consumes a […]
Body Dysmorphic Disorder: An Overview Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is classified within the cluster of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). It is characterized by a debilitating preoccupation with one or more perceived defects or flaws in physical appearance, which are often either minimal or […]