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Cited by 35Body Image and Dysmorphia StudiesPsychosomatic Disorders and Their TreatmentsObsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders

Body dysmorphic disorder

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Rück, Christian, Mataix-Cols, David, Feusner, Jamie D., Shavitt, Roseli Gedanke, Veale, David, Krebs, Georgina, Fernández de la Cruz, Lorena·2024·Nature Reviews Disease Primers
DOI 10.1038/s41572-024-00577-zPMC PMC12032537
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Abstract

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is an obsessive-compulsive disorder-related psychiatric condition characterized by an intense preoccupation with perceived physical flaws that are not observable by others. BDD affects ~2% of the adult population but is underdiagnosed, partly owing to limited clinician awareness, and undertreated, partly due to limited access to treatment. Research on the aetiology of BDD is scarce but likely involves an interplay between genetic and environmental factors. A few studies suggest functional and structural brain differences (compared with controls) in the regions involved in visual and emotional processing, although firm conclusions about the pathophysiology of the disorder cannot be made at this stage. Diagnosis requires the presence of repetitive behaviours or mental acts typically aimed at checking, correcting or concealing perceived flaws. The disorder typically has its onset before 18 years of age, with a female preponderance in youth but no major gender disparity in adults. Quality of life is markedly impaired across multiple domains and suicide risk is considerable. Evidence-based treatments include cognitive behavioural therapy and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Future research should focus on understanding the biological and environmental factors that increase the risk of BDD, and on improving access to effective treatments, thereby addressing a critical gap in care for this often misunderstood and overlooked disorder.

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  • One study reported ASD comorbidity rates as high as 16% among young people with BDD.

    “Additionally, research suggests a notable overlap between BDD and neurodevelopmental disorders such as ASD and ADHD, with one study reporting ASD comorbidity rates as high as 16% among young people with BDD [119].”

    From The Impact of Social Media & Technology on Child and Adolescent Mental Health (2025) · cites this paper as [119]

    The Epidemiology section (Comorbidities and consequences; page unavailable) says autism and ADHD are more commonly diagnosed in young people with BDD than in adults with BDD. It does not report a study finding a 16% ASD comorbidity rate, so the specific figure is unsupported by our copy. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • There is a notable overlap between BDD and neurodevelopmental disorders such as ASD and ADHD.

    “Additionally, research suggests a notable overlap between BDD and neurodevelopmental disorders such as ASD and ADHD, with one study reporting ASD comorbidity rates as high as 16% among young people with BDD [119].”

    From The Impact of Social Media & Technology on Child and Adolescent Mental Health (2025) · cites this paper as [119]

  • BDD leads to compulsive behaviors such as mirror checking, excessive grooming, and camouflaging.

    “BDD leads to compulsive behaviors such as mirror checking, excessive grooming, and camouflaging [119].”

    From The Impact of Social Media & Technology on Child and Adolescent Mental Health (2025) · cites this paper as [119]

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Rück, C., Mataix-Cols, D., Feusner, J. D., Shavitt, R. G., Veale, D., Krebs, G., & Fernández de la Cruz, L.
Affiliations
  • Region Stockholm (SE)
  • Karolinska University Hospital (SE)
  • Universidade de São Paulo (BR)
  • King's College London (GB)
  • University College London (GB)
Corresponding author
Rück, Christian
ORCID
Venue
Nature Reviews Disease Primers
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2024-12-05
Volume
10
Issue
1
Pages
92-92
ISSN
2056-676X (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1038/s41572-024-00577-z
PMC
PMC12032537
OpenAlex
W4405080096
Cited by
35
References
20
Citations by year
2026: 24 · 2025: 11
FWCI
3.12
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Nature Reviews Disease Primers (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
  • Lund University Publications (Lund University) (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (R21MH128815, R01MH121520)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders
Keywords
body dysmorphic disorder, obsessive-compulsive spectrum, underdiagnosis, etiology, brain structure and function, pathophysiology, cognitive behavioral therapy, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, suicide risk, quality of life, treatment access
MeSH terms
Adult, Female, Humans, Male, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Quality of Life, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, Body Dysmorphic Disorders

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