Body Dysmorphic Disorder and Gender

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a psychological disorder in which people become preoccupied with a fictitious flaw in their appearance. This disorder has distinct gender differences in presentation and area of concern. Treatment issues, while not greatly researched, will also vary by gender. This entry introduces BDD and pays specific attention to how gender affects both its prevalence and its treatment.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

BDD is characterized by a preoccupation with perceived flaws in appearance. Individuals diagnosed with BDD are fixated on and distressed with one or more alleged defects in their physical appearance; these alleged defects are either not observable or only minimally apparent to other individuals. Regardless of others’ perspectives, individuals struggling with BDD become fixated on or obsessed with these perceived flaws. These ...

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