Dysmorphic Syndrome or Body Dysmorphic Disorder: A Major Underdiagnosed Mental Health Problem

The Body Dysmorphic Syndrome (CDS) is a clinical entity that consists of an agonizing concern for imaginary or slight defects in appearance, this is commonly considered as an obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorder, based on the similarities it has with this condition.

Clinically, it is underdiagnosed because many patients are shy about showing their secondary problem, since most of the time it derives from the altered perception of the skin, hair or nose. However, the disorder can point to various aspects of the patient's appearance throughout his life, it arises if one believes himself to be ugly, deformed or unattractive in the presence of no or minimal culturally acceptable physical deformity and is related to strong feelings of shame accompanied by repetitive behaviors such as checking in the mirror, camouflage of "defects", among others.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has considered this disorder as one of the ten most disabling diseases, since the person can avoid social or personal contact. For this reason, CDS is currently considered one of the potentially fatal diseases due to abuse of surgical (cosmetic) procedures and the high rate of suicide attempts with 80% in patients with CDS generate suicidal ideation, but 50% run it.

Author(s):

Wendy Sanchez Cañate, Lazaro Valdelamar Gale, Katerine Perez Mejia, Tatiana Rodriguez Jimenez, Francesca Badel Salgado, Heliana Padilla Santos and Nelson Villalba Ordosgoitia

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