Body dysmorphic disorder

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) "is defined in DSM-IV (1994) as “a preoccupation with an imagined defect in appearance; if a slight physical anomaly is present, the person's concern about this is markedly excessive.” The preoccupation must cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. In addition, the preoccupation must not be better accounted for by another mental disorder (e.g., the dissatisfaction with body shape and size that occurs in anorexia nervosa)." (reference: Perugi, G., Akiskal, H. S., Gianotti, D., et al. Gender-related differences in body dysmorphic disorder (dysmorphophobia). J. Nerv. Ment. Dis. 185: 578, 1997).