Body Dysmorphic Symptoms With Emerging Psychotic Features in an Adolescent Female: A Diagnostic Challenge

Schizophrenia is a chronic psychotic disorder characterized by disruptions in perception, thinking, emotion, and behavior.The onset is often insidious and may be preceded by a prodromal period characterized by social withdrawal, functional decline, and subtle behavioral or emotional changes.Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is characterized by excessive preoccupation with perceived or slight defects in physical appearance.Although BDD is considered a distinct psychiatric disorder, it can be present with schizophrenia and can make diagnostic challenges, particularly during the early stages of schizophrenia.This case is a prime example of the diagnostic difficulty of schizophrenia with body dysmorphic symptoms.