Body dysmorphic disorder is sometimes called imagined ugliness. The disease often occurs in adolescence or even in childhood. The physical appearance of the patient's body has no obvious defect, while patients believe falsely that it is flawed or they exaggerate the minor flaws. They suspect others are paying attention to their defects and laugh at them. Patients usually spend a lot of time to look at themselves in the mirror repeatedly. In some extreme cases, patients wear mask or a scarf to cover the head. Some people will secretly resort to cosmetic surgery or dermatology surgery or drug therapy. Body dysmorphic disorder is a serious mental illness but it is treatable. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors, including Prozac, sertraline and paroxetine, are very effective for the treatment of depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is another effective therapy.
How is Body dysmorphic disorder treated in practice?