King's College London, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Academic Institute

Georgina Krebs

B3796

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is characterised by excessive preoccupation with perceived flaws in physical appearance (most commonly facial features), which appear minimal or completely unobservable to others. Sufferers typically engage in a range of compulsive and repetitive behaviours, such as extreme grooming rituals, often in an attempt to conceal or correct their perceived appearance flaws. The disorder usually starts during adolescence, with an average onset at age 16. BDD affects about 2% of the general population at any one point in time, although up to 15% experience subthreshold symptoms that are impairing in their own right. The disorder has a devasting impact on quality of life, and is linked with high risk of suicidality. Is it estimated that one in four people with BDD attempt suicide, making it one of the most high-risk of all psychiatry disorders. Despite the prevalence and morbidity of BDD, it remains strikingly under-researched.

Findings will shed light on links between BDD and other better-understood disorders, which could have implications for understanding aetiology and treatment. Findings will also assist in the identification of individuals at risk of developing BDD.

01/06/2021