A study of facial dysmorphophobia

The psychopathology of 20 subjects who presented to psychiatrists with facial dysmorphophobia was examined. Seven had body dysmorphic disorder and 13 had dysmorphophobic symptoms secondary to an underlying psychiatric disorder (usually depression). The body dysmorphic group had a younger age of onset and overvalued ideas about their appearance. In both groups there was a high proportion of associated personality disorder, usually of the anxious (avoidant) type.