The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) classifies body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) under the category of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, alongside obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), hoarding disorder, and other conditions.
People with BDD usually experience an intense preoccupation with perceived defects in their physical appearance, defects that can sometimes be insignificant or unnoticeable to others. Individuals with BDD often exhibit repetitive and time-consuming behaviors (e.g., mirror checking, skin picking), and/or they constantly compare their appearance to others, which in turn may cause distress and have a negative impact on their social, personal, and professional lives. BDD is also linked with a high rate of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.[1][2]
Although any part of the body can be a cause for concern in individuals with BDD, certain areas — like skin, hair, and nose — are more commonly affected.[3] Furthermore, a specific subtype of BDD, muscle dysmorphia (MD), is characterized by preoccupation with the size and muscle composition of the entire body.[4]