Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)

We Help People Suffering from Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) in Monroeville, Mt. Lebanon and Cranberry

Township, PA 

 

Have you wondered why you incessantly preoccupy yourself with thoughts of features on your face and/or body? Has it impeded your ability to leave the house or engage in particular social situations? Do you feel unloved or unworthy because of a physical deficit that you may have? Do you feel as if sometimes you see or experience the deficit and other times you don’t? If you’ve answered yes to any number of the aforementioned questions, it is quite possible that you’re experiencing a relatively rare condition known as Body Dysmorphic Disorder.

 

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, BDD affects approximately 5% of the American population, split almost evenly between men and women, 2.5 and 2.2 percent respectively. BDD is a condition wherein individuals experience imagined and/or small defects in appearance to a degree that markedly impedes their ability to function optimally. Sufferers of the disorder may be seen: camouflaging parts of their bodies, excessively exercising, engaging in excessive grooming, avoiding mirrors, spending extended periods of time in front of mirrors, and several other obsessive behaviors. The disorder has various subtypes and is known to manifest in early adolescence, around the age of 12 or 13. Given its relative similarity to other mental health disorders, it is quite often misdiagnosed as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and any of the myriad eating disorders seen in people of the same age. However, what some clinicians may ignore is that the person may be comorbid for both, meaning they are afflicted with two or more disorders simultaneously. What distinguishes Body Dysmorphic Disorder from its often substituted counterparts is that the condition’s focus is limited to specific deficits on their body/face, whereas OCD and other disorders tend to center on generalized features of the environment, their body or several other sources.

 

Unfortunately, causes of the disorder remain unclear, but experts within the fields of psychology and neurobiology believe that it is a result of environmental and neurobiological factors. Since the disorder is a product of the two previously mentioned stimuli, it is necessary to utilize a treatment modality or set of treatments that effectively meets these inducements head on. Purportedly, a combination of Cognitive-Behavioral therapy and antidepressant medication is most effective in reducing and possibly eliminating the disorder entirely. That is not to say that individuals cannot elect to pursue only one treatment, for each can offer substantial increases in functioning. However, many in the field of mental health urge clients to consider psychotherapy because of its greater, long-term efficacy.

 

If you are in need of a mental health provider that can provide efficient and effective service, look no further because Cognitive Behavior Institute has what you’re seeking. CBI is currently spearheading a movement meant to target mental illness through many different avenues. Located in the heart of Cranberry Township, including several other outposts throughout Pittsburgh, the Cognitive Behavior Institute prides itself on employing the evidence-based practice. This type of practice is designed to offer therapeutic modalities that are backed by research and experience meant to demonstrate efficacy. No one wants to go into therapy and leave the same way they came, which is why Cognitive Behavior Institute ensures care that is backed by proven results. If you believe that you are experiencing BDD or any other mental health concern, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 724-609-5002 or visit our website at www.papsychotherapy.org. 

This article was originally posted on Cognitive Behavior Institute www.papsychotherapy.org  Feb 2018