Body Dysmorphic Disorder in Adolescents

Everyone experiences concerns about their physical appearance, especially during adolescence. Some individuals, however, can become so overly distressed, anxious, and fearful about their appearance that it begins to affect their lives. These exaggerated fears, and the array of delusional thoughts and maladaptive behaviors that accompany them, may suggest the onset and development of a severe psychological condition known as body dysmorphic disorder.

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a distressing psychological condition that is often underrecognized and misunderstood, occurring chiefly in the adolescent population. BDD is characterized by a preoccupation with perceived bodily flaws and poor physical appearance. These flaws are often minimal or nonexistent. However, individuals with BDD genuinely believe that they are physically defective or deformed. As such, they tend to experience debilitating anxiety stemming ...