WHAT IS BODY DYSMORPHIC DISORDER?

‘People who have BDD have a preoccupation with a part of their body they view as being flawed in some way. This can be anything from their weight or their skin to the shape of a particular body part. The ‘flaw’ causes them distress to the point that it can impact on their family, social or work life, and may lead to depression and anxiety. The person may go to some effort to conceal it and may resort to extreme measures such as surgery. But this does little to improve the condition. Ultimately, psychological work or talking therapies are key.’ Dr Sarah Vohra, NHS psychiatrist and author @themindmedic