Facing Themselves: Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a little-known but highly disturbing anxiety disorder that deserves more detailed analysis than is possible in a 15-minute news segment on ABC's newsmagazine 20/20. Until that more comprehensive look arrives, however, we have ABC correspondent John Stossel providing this overview of a psychological condition generally afflicting young adults and characterized by an abnormal preoccupation with a real or imagined physical flaw. The severity of BDD varies from incessant, obsessive primping in front of the mirror to panic attacks that render the afflicted individual incapable of leaving his or her home. Reportedly, in 20% of the cases, those afflicted with the disorder ultimately attempt suicide. Four case studies are presented here, including a suicidal adolescent girl who believes she is repulsive, a homebound 20-year old man who thinks he's too hideous to be seen in public; and another young man whose patchy high school attendance record is due to an exaggerated preoccupation with facial pimples. Three of the adolescents interviewed have benefited from drug therapy using serotonin re-uptake inhibitors and cognitive-behavioral exposure therapy; their descriptions of their self-perception and behavior patterns before and after therapy provide some measure of hope. Still, the film will likely leave viewers, particularly bewildered parents, anxious for more prescriptive advice. Despite its brief running time and some inconsistent sound quality, Facing Themselves: Body Dysmorphic Disorder will be helpful for parents and others affected by BDD. Recommended for larger health collections. Aud: H, C, P. (A. Cantú)