Dysmorphophobia and body dysmorphia
The dysmorphophobia(fear of bodily dysmorphia) as well as bodily dysmorphia are psychiatric disorders which both relate to a bodily defect. But the two notions of dysmorphophobia and dysmorphia must be dissociated. In the case of dysmorphophobia, this physical defect refers to a fear. The person who suffers from it fears having a too big nose or a misshapen face for example.
On the other hand, in the case of bodily dysmorphia, the patient is not afraid of this physical defect since he is convinced that it exists and that it is a reality. “What defines body dysmorphia is the obsessive nature of the physical defect“, specifies Dr Laurent Karila.
An imaginary or exaggerated physical defect
This dissatisfaction, whether related to a real physical imperfection or not, can concern any part of the body, the face (eyes, nose, hands, etc.). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a reference work of the American Psychiatric Society, specifies that to fall under the classification of body dysmorphism, a part of the body must be belittled and over-judged. The concern for this “flaw” is disproportionate. To the point of causing disgust, for example. The resulting significant suffering alters life in society (love, friendship, family, professional life).
An obsession that makes you drift
People who suffer from body dysmorphia are overly focused on the area of their body that they hate. So much so that they come to adopt “abnormal” behaviors to monitor and correct this defect: taking pictures of this area to see how it is evolving; eating disorders ; successive regimes or taking medication to lose weight; multiple cosmetic surgery operations.
These attitudes will not solve the psychological problem. This is why in the case of cosmetic surgery, Dr Karila insists on the importance of evaluating the psychological state of the candidate to ensure that he does not suffer from bodily dysmorphia.
A symptom of a more serious pathology
Sometimes this dysmorphia is the tip of the iceberg and can refer to a more serious pathology. “It can be the symptom of a psychiatric illness such as anorexia nervosa or schizophrenia”, specifies the expert.
CBT to treat it
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is recommended to treat body dysmorphic disorders. As with depression, the psychiatrist or psychologist works on cognitive distortions, i.e. distorted thought patterns that induce toxic behavior in the patient.
Thanks to Dr Laurent Karila, psychiatrist and addiction specialist.
>> To read: Dysmorphophobia: a bad connection in the brain involved
To be ugly to be sick of it
I hate my body: how to come to terms with it