Body Dysmorphic Disorder Research Paper

Introduction
Modern western society has placed such unrealistic values on physical appearance that it is hard to miss the media’s insinuations that a perfect body and a beautiful face will buy happiness and increase quality of life (Bowsher & Campagna, 2016). It can be difficult at times to separate oneself from all the media propaganda, with many of us believing at one time or another that we would be better off if we were thinner, had a smaller nose, or better hair. In a time of such pressure to be an ideal version of ourselves, it is no wonder why psychological disorders such as body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) are becoming increasingly prevalent (Bowsher & Campagna, 2016). For these reasons, I chose BDD as my term paper topic.
BDD is a psychiatric

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders -IV - TR (DSM-IV-TR) (American Psychiatric Association (APA), 2000) classifies BDD as a somatoform disorder, characterized by the fixation on a fictitious or minor imperfection in appearance. The individual places so much importance on this flaw that their quality of life is significantly affected (APA, 2000). These individuals often have significant social impairment which may correlate to the notion that BDD is often associated with other psychiatric conditions, such as depression, avoidant, paranoid, obsessive-compulsive, and borderline personality disorders (Didie et al., 2012). Moreover, Bowsher and Campagna (2016) state that individuals with BDD are often shown to have an increased risk for suicide.
In spite of strong evidence suggesting the seriousness of BDD, it often remains undiagnosed (Bowher & Campagna, 2016). Reasons for delayed diagnosis may include disinclination of individuals to discuss their situations due to feelings of embarrassment or shame, as well as unfamiliarity of BDD characteristics among physicians (De Groot, Dingemans, Van Furth, & Van Rood,