TL;DR:
- Dysmorphophobia is a mental disorder where individuals are obsessed with imagined physical defects, often leading to social isolation and even suicide attempts.
- It commonly affects the face (e.g., nose, mouth, jaw, teeth) and can cause obsession with one feature or transfer to others. Women are more affected than men.
- Causes include low self-esteem, comparing appearances to others, fear of loneliness, breakups, and body-focused professions like modeling or bodybuilding. Teenage years and a lack of family approval are key risk factors.
- Diagnosis involves behavioral evaluation and sometimes referrals from surgeons to psychiatrists. Patients often fixate on mirrors or avoid them entirely.
- Treatment includes cognitive-behavioral therapy and medications like SSRIs (e.g., fluoxetine). Cosmetic procedures generally do not address the underlying issue.
Dysmorphophobia is a mental disorder that involves an unreasonable sense of beauty defects. These are usually unnoticeable by other people. The disorder often leads to social isolation and is even sometimes the cause of suicide attempts. A person suffering from dysmorphophobia opts for numerous treatments to reduce or remove the invisible defect. It is worth knowing that any part of the body can become the focus of attention for a patient with delusional dysmorphophobia.
Causes of dysmorphophobia
Appearance dysmorphophobia often manifests itself in people who regularly compare themselves to others and have low self-esteem. Seeing the positive features of the appearance of one's friends or TV stars can expose one to unjustified complexes, leading to dysmorphophobia. The cause of such disorders can become a fear of loneliness. People who cannot find themselves in a group or have trouble finding a life partner often blame their imaginary imperfections. The condition can also occur after a breakup. Professional jobs or hobbies such as gymnastics, bodybuilding or modeling can foster obsession with appearance, as they are body-centered. People in their teenage years are most susceptible to this type of disorder. Dysmorphophobia is fostered by psychological or physical violence in the family and lack of parental approval. appearance-obsessed dysmorphophobia The attention of people with dismorphophobia delusional is most often focused on the face. Patients usually cannot accept the size and shape of the nose, mouth, jaw and teeth. Often the obsession is transferred from one body part to another. According to a study led by Dr. Katharine Philips, out of five hundred patients, it was found that as many as 6% of people focus all their attention on their mouths. They often see them as narrow and unattractive, prompting augmentation plastic surgery. Unfortunately, the disorder makes them unsatisfactory, and the patient decides to undergo further procedures. Overly enlarged mouths resemble an unattractive, duck's beak. Sometimes patients go as far as violence and insults when the specialist refuses further disfiguring treatments. Delusional facial defects occur more often in women than in men.
Test for dysmorphophobia
The diagnosis of delusional dysmorphophobia usually takes a long time. Like most mental disorders, it is a condition that is difficult to treat and diagnose. A thorough test is necessary. If a person with delusional defects reports to a plastic surgeon, the professional is required to inform the patient of his real problem and refer him to a psychiatrist. Before starting treatment, it is necessary to determine whether the defect indicated by the patient exists or, if it does, what its severity is. When conducting a test for dysmorphophobia, the doctor takes into account the impression the indicated body part makes on other people and whether it is noticeable. Patients sometimes spend hours looking at themselves in the mirror and at the reflective surfaces they encounter. Sometimes the opposite behavior of avoiding mirrors occurs. Therefore, exaggerated behavior should be considered in both cases. A person with delusional dysmorphophobia presents his or her defects as repulsive, disgusting and shame-inducing. Actions taken to camouflage or remove supposed imperfections are a form of compulsion, or obsessive activities.
Dysmorphophobia – treatment
Appearance-enhancing treatments, such as plastic surgery or cosmetic agents, usually do not reduce the symptoms of dysmorphophobia. Treatment must target the underlying psychiatric pathology and requires psychological intervention. Helping a person with obsession with appearance should be based on a conversation that helps the patient understand his problems. In treatment of dysmorphophobia both oral medications and psychotherapy are used. Patients usually do not have the conviction that they are suffering from any mental disorder at all, because according to them the cause of the problems is the hated body part. Among the most proven treatments is cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy. The most commonly used drugs are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, namely fluvoxamine, fluoxetine, paroxetine, citalopram, sertraline and clomipramine. The use of other drugs with psychotropic effects has not been confirmed in clinical trials.
Conclusion
Dysmorphophobia is a serious mental health disorder, not a simple vanity issue. It often stems from low self-esteem, fear of rejection, or past trauma. Treatments like plastic surgery typically fail to address the root problem. Instead, effective care involves cognitive-behavioral therapy and medication targeting the underlying psychiatric condition. Early intervention and awareness are key to recovery. If diagnosed early, patients can reclaim their confidence and live fulfilling lives. Understanding and compassion—rather than criticism—are vital when supporting someone with this condition. Let's focus on mental health, not outward imperfections.
