A case of body dysmorphic disorder in an adolescent with hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia.

We report the case of an adolescent with hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia, who had obsessive-compulsive disorder and was later diagnosed with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). BDD is a highly distressing, adolescent-onset disorder that may lead to social isolation, the development of comorbid mental health disorders and suicidality. Patients typically lack insight into their BDD and frequently present to dermatologists for medical treatment. In this paper, we address the challenges faced when working with patients with BDD.

Treatment utilization and treatment barriers in individuals with body dysmorphic disorder.

BACKGROUND: Although effective treatments are available, most individuals with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) do not receive an appropriate diagnosis or treatment. We aimed to examine treatment utilization and barriers to treatment, and to identify associated socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. METHODS: German individuals completed an online self-report survey of appearance concerns. A sample of N = 429 individuals met criteria for BDD. We examined the frequency of treatment utilization and barriers, analyzed comparisons between treated and untreated individuals and assessed the relationships of socio-demographic and clinical features with mental health treatment utilization and treatment barriers, respectively. RESULTS: Only 15.2% of the individuals with BDD had been diagnosed with BDD, and lifetime rates of mental health treatment were low (39.9%). Individuals endorsed multiple barriers to mental health treatment, especially shame, low perceived need and a preference for cosmetic and medical treatments. Associated features were identified, including age, a BDD diagnosis, body dysmorphic symptom severity, a likely major depressive disorder, prior cosmetic surgery, and insight. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this largest study to date highlight that BDD is still underrecognized and undertreated even in a country with extensive mental health care and few financial barriers. We discuss modifiable factors and strategies to foster awareness of BDD in sufferers and professionals to improve treatment dissemination and to reduce treatment barriers.

Transtorno dismórfico corporal sob a perspectiva do cirurgião plástico / Body dysmorphic disorder from the perspective of the plastic surgeon

O transtorno dismórfico corporal é encontrado com uma certa frequência nos atendimentos relacionados à estética. Entretanto, permanece subdiagnosticado devido à dificuldade de diferenciar uma insatisfação pessoal natural com a imagem corporal de uma queixa patológica. Para os pacientes com TDC, o incômodo gerado pelo seu "defeito" costuma ser desproporcional ao que observamos no exame físico. Além disso, na tentativa de corrigir aquilo que não lhe agrada, ele se submete a diversos procedimentos cirúrgicos que, em grande parte das vezes, considerará insuficiente para a resolução do seu problema. Nesse sentido, buscamos, com este trabalho, ampliar as discussões já existentes na literatura especializada. Assim, assumindo a escassa bibliografia, tencionamos, além de construir discussões acerca dessa afecção, o que pode contribuir para a identificação dos traços desse transtorno, evitando, por conseguinte, a realização de procedimentos cirúrgicos desnecessários e nortear as ações do especialista no que diz respeito à possibilidade de uma disputa judicial.

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is found with a certain frequency in aesthetic-related care. However, it is underdiagnosed due to the difficulty in differentiating a personal dissatisfaction with body image of a pathological complaint. For BDD patients, the discomfort generated by their "defect" is often disproportionate to that observed on physical examination. In addition, in an attempt to correct their "defect", the patients undergoes various surgical procedures, which are often considered insufficient by the patients to solve their problem. Hence, this study aimed to expand the already existing discussions in the specialized literature. Since there are only a few studies on the topic, we plan to discuss this condition so as to contribute towards identification of the characteristics of this disorder, thus, avoiding unnecessary surgical procedures and guiding the specialist's actions in case of a legal dispute.

Transtornos psiquiátricos na medicina estética: a importância do reconhecimento de sinais e sintomas / Psychiatric disorders in aesthetic medicine: the importance of recognizing signs and symptoms

Transtornos psiquiátricos são amplamente evidenciados em pacientes que buscam tratamentos estéticos. Apesar de não configurarem necessariamente uma contraindicação para a realização de procedimentos, o reconhecimento desses sintomas pelo profissional tende a contribuir para o fortalecimento da relação profissional-paciente e para um melhor prognóstico, reduzindo as chances de insatisfação, complicações e agravos nos sintomas psiquiátricos, além de evitar complicações legais. No presente artigo, os transtornos psiquiátricos mais comuns no domínio cosmético e estético foram apresentados e discutidos, assim como as orientações para o reconhecimento de sintomas e de manuseio destes pacientes por profissionais de saúde.

Psychiatric disorders are widely reported in patients seeking aesthetic treatments. Although they are not necessarily a contraindication for procedures, the recognition of these symptoms by the professional tends to strengthen the professional-patient relationship, thus leading to a better prognosis. This reduces the chances of dissatisfaction, complications, and aggravation of psychiatric symptoms, in addition to avoiding legal complications. In this article, the most common psychiatric disorders arising in cosmetic and aesthetic treatment are presented and discussed, as well as guidelines for recognizing the symptoms and managing these patients.

Association of Mental Health Status With Perception of Nasal Function.

IMPORTANCE: Mental health issues are thought to be overrepresented among patients undergoing rhinoplasty and may be associated with patient presentation prior to surgery. OBJECTIVE: To assess the association of poor mental health with perception of nasal function. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A cross-sectional study of patients presenting for airway assessment was performed from December 1, 2011, to October 31, 2015, at 2 tertiary rhinoplasty centers in Sydney, Australia. Mental health was independently defined preoperatively by the Mental Component Summary of the 36-item Short Form Health Survey version 2 (a score of <40 indicated poor mental well-being), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (a score of <15 indicated low self-esteem), and the Dysmorphic Concerns Questionnaire (a score of >11 indicated above-average dysmorphic concerns). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Nasal function was assessed with patient-reported outcome measures, including the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation Scale, the 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test, a visual analog scale to rate ease of breathing on the left and right sides, and Likert scales to assess overall function and nasal obstruction. Nasal airflow was assessed by nasal peak inspiratory flow, nasal airway resistance, and minimum cross-sectional area. RESULTS: Among 495 patients in the study (302 women and 193 men; mean [SD] age, 36.5 [13.6] years), compared with patients with good mental health, those with poor mental health had poorer scores in all patient-reported outcome measures, including the visual analog scale for the left side (mean [SD], 51 [25] vs 42 [25]; P = .001), visual analog scale for the right side (mean [SD], 54 [24] vs 45 [26]; P < .001), Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation Scale (mean [SD], 2.64 [0.95] vs 1.96 [1.04]; P < .001), 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (mean [SD], 2.14 [0.84] vs 1.33 [0.83]; P < .001), nasal obstruction (58 of 145 [40.2%] vs 83 of 350 [23.7%] with severe or worse obstruction; P < .001), and nasal function (72 of 145 [49.7%] vs 111 of 350 [31.8%] with poor or worse function; P < .001). Subclinical differences in nasal peak inspiratory flow could be demonstrated, but all other nasal airflow measures were similar. Low self-esteem produced a similar pattern, but dysmorphia did not. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Poor mental health status is associated with a poorer self-perception of nasal function compared with those who are mentally healthy with clinically similar nasal airflow. Clinicians should be aware that patients with poor mental health reporting obstructed airflow may in part be representing an extension of their negative emotions rather than true obstruction and may require further assessment prior to surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA.

[Body dysmorphic disorder].

Body dysmorphic disorder is defined by a preoccupation of one or more non-existent or slight defects or flaws in the physical appearance. The prevalence is 1.7-2.4% in the general population with a higher incidence rate in women. The rate of suicidal ideation is as high as 80%, and up to 25% of the patients attempt to commit suicide. Comorbidities, such as obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, and anxiety, are frequent. These patients may seek cosmetic or dermatologic rather than psychological treatment. In the view of the high prevalence and risk of suicide, recognizing this disorder is important.

Axis II disorders, body image and childhood abuse in bariatric surgery candidates.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Psychiatric disorders are common in obese patients and they are often considered contraindications for bariatric surgery. In this patients Axis I profile has been widely investigated, while only few studies on Axis II profile are reported. Aim of the study was to examine the prevalence of Axis II psychopathology, to describe the typical body image and to evaluate the prevalence of childhood abuse in bariatric surgery candidates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 102 consecutive obese patients (77 females) were evaluated by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM IV which assessed Axis I Disorders. After the exclusion of Axis I Disorders, 50 patients (36 females, BMI: 44.68 ± 9.48 Kg/m2, age: 44.5 ± 11.7 years) were enrolled. All 50 patients received a psychiatric assessment including the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Disorders (SCID-II); the Body Uneasiness Test, part a (BUT-A), which assesses body image disorders; the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) as a screening test of childhood maltreatment histories. RESULTS: Nineteen patients (38%) were affected by Axis II disorders. Cluster C disorders, including avoidant, dependent and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders, represented the most common diagnosis (24%). Moreover, 34 patients (68%) showed body image disorders (BID), with a GSI score ≥1.2 and 24 (48%) referred an abuse during childhood. Patients with Axis II disorder or a body image uneasiness or a history of maltreatment during childhood, showed higher BMI in adulthood. CONCLUSIONS: Psychiatric comorbidities in obese patients were not only represented by depression or anxiety (Axis I disorders), but also by personality disorders (Axis II), body image disorders and childhood abuse. The identification of these conditions could improve outcomes of bariatric surgery and represent an indication for a most important psychiatric support before, during and after surgery.

Why some patients are unhappy: part 2. Relationship of nasal shape and trauma history to surgical success.

BACKGROUND: A previous report indicated that secondary rhinoplasty patients with normal preoperative noses displayed significantly higher prevalences of depression, demanding behavior, previous aesthetic operations, and confirmed trauma (abuse/neglect) histories than patients who originally had dorsal deformities or straight noses with functional symptoms. The authors hypothesized that abuse or neglect might also influence patient satisfaction and suggest screening criteria. METHODS: One hundred secondary rhinoplasty patients stratified by their original nasal shapes were examined by bivariate analysis to determine the characteristics associated with surgical satisfaction. Mediation analysis established intervening factors between total surgery number and patients' perceived success. Random forests identified important patient attributes that predicted surgical success; logistic regression confirmed these effects. RESULTS: Satisfied patients originally had dorsal humps, three or fewer previous operations, were not demanding or depressed, were not looking for perfect noses, and had no trauma histories. Dissatisfied patients originally had subjectively normal noses, more than three operations, were depressed, had demanding personalities, and had trauma histories. Patients who had undergone the most operations were most likely to request more surgery and least likely to be satisfied. A trauma (abuse/neglect) history was the most significant mediator between patient satisfaction and number of operations and the most prominent factor driving surgery in patients with milder deformities. CONCLUSIONS: Potentially causative links exist between trauma (abuse/neglect), body image disorders, and obsessive plastic surgery. Body dysmorphic disorder may be a model of the disordered adaptation to abuse or neglect, a variant of posttraumatic stress disorder. Our satisfied and dissatisfied patients shared common characteristics and therefore may be identifiable preoperatively.

Evaluation of cutaneous body image dissatisfaction in the dermatology patient.

Cutaneous body image (CBI), defined as the individual's mental representation of his or her skin, hair, and nails, is an important clinical factor in dermatologic disorders and often the primary consideration in deciding whether to proceed with cosmetic procedures or institute treatment in some skin disorders such as acne. CBI is a highly subjective construct that can be significantly confounded by cultural, psychosocial, and psychiatric factors. Assessment of CBI in the dermatology patient is best accomplished using a biopsychosocial model that involves (1) evaluation of concerns about the appearance of the skin, hair, and nails, (2) assessment of comorbid body image pathologies, especially body dysmorphic disorder, and (3) assessment of other psychiatric comorbidities such as major depressive disorder that can confound the presentation of the CBI complaint. Depending on the psychiatric comobidities, an assessment of suicide risk may have to be done, and if necessary, a referral made to a mental health professional. The clinician should consider the patient's developmental stage (eg, body image concerns are likely to be much greater in the adolescent patient independent of his or her dermatologic disorder) and sociocultural background (eg, a desire for lighter skin in some ethnic groups), factors that can also have a major effect on CBI.

Body dysmorphic factors and mental health problems in people seeking rhinoplastic surgery.

There has been increasing number of requests for cosmetic rhinoplastic surgery among Iranian people in different age groups in recent years. One risk for people who undergo such plastic operations is the presence of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), which can complicate the result and decrease the rate of satisfaction from surgery. This study aimed to investigate mental health problems in people seeking rhinoplastic surgery. In this case-control study, the scores of General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and DCQ (Dysmorphic Concerns Questionnaire) were obtained from 50 individuals who were candidates for rhinoplasty, and the results were compared with a normal control group. The total GHQ score and scores in anxiety, depression, and social dysfunction sub-scales were higher among the study group. This was the same for the DCQ score. However, the scores of somatization sub-scale of GHQ were not significantly different between the two groups. Psychiatric evaluation of candidates for rhinoplasty seems necessary for prevention of unnecessary and repetitive surgical operations.

Body dysmorphia, self-mutilation and the reconstructive surgeon.

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a disabling preoccupation with a slight or an imagined defect in appearance. It is recognised in some patients who present to the plastic surgeon requesting multiple cosmetic procedures. Very rarely, BDD patients may wish for amputation of a healthy limb and may even mutilate themselves deliberately in order to necessitate amputation. These patients pose a diagnostic challenge as BDD is uncommon and they are often uncooperative whilst appearing mentally sound. Furthermore, they raise difficult ethical and legal issues for the surgeon. Although there is some guidance for the management of BDD patients seeking elective amputation, there is currently none for the management of those who present in the emergency setting. Illustrated by the case of a man who, having failed to find a complicit surgeon, attempted self-amputation of the hand, we review the relevant ethical, legal and management issues with advice by the British Medical Association and General Medical Council.

Rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis: a lethal complication of body dysmorphic disorder.

Young diabetics can sometimes have difficulty with insulin compliance for various reasons. This can be exacerbated if associated with body dysmorphic disorder or other eating disorders. The manipulation of insulin to lose weight can have devastating consequences. The authors describe a fatal case of rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis secondary to insulin manipulation for the purpose of weight loss.