Ask Dr Miriam

QMy daughter is behaving oddly. First she lost a lot of weight fast and my husband and I thought she was anorexic. Now she won’t come out of her room and keeps saying she’s ugly. What is wrong?

AThe symptoms point to body dysmorphic syndrome where people have a distorted view of how they look.

Sufferers think they’re ugly and many turn to cosmetic surgery only to find when they’ve had it they still feel ugly. About two in 100 people, both male and female, have BDS and it can be devastating, leading to depression and even suicide. It has been described as an obsessive anxiety disorder which is why antidepressants are used, often with a degree of success. Cognitive behaviour therapy can also help and be specifically tailored to your daughter’s needs. The Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation, bddfoundation.org, could be very helpful.