Prevalence of body dysmorphic disorder in patients referred to Razi hospital cosmetic clinic with complaints of cosmetic disorders

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is characterized by a preoccupation with an imagined defect in ones appearance or an exaggeration of a slight physical anomaly. Any part of the appearance may be the focuse of BDD patients. Thus preoccupation with appearance leads to significant damages of social and job functioning. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of BDD in patients referred to cosmetic clinic of Razi hospital.

Patients visiting cosmetic clinic of Razi hospital were selected if they agreed to participate in the study. They were evaluated by Yale brown obsessive compulsive scale modified for body dysmorphic disorder (YBOCS-BDD) as well as questionnaires containing demographic characteristics of patients including gender، educational status، marital status، history of reference to psychiatrist or psychologist، other medication، history of cosmetic surgery and rate of satisfaction of cosmetic surgery. YBOCS-BDD questionnaires then processed by educated specialist to determine BDD score of patie-nts. Demographic questionnaires، also analysed to evaluate epidemiologic properties of patients visiting cosmetic clinic of Razi hospital.

The prevalence of BDD in current sample was 33. 3%. 70. 7% of BDD patients were female while 29. 3% were male. The commonest age range was 21-50 years (82. 8%). 65. 5% were educated to level of diploma or lower، while 34. 5% had academic degrees. 51. 7% were married. 20. 7% had history of reference to psychiatrist or psycholo-gist. 17/2% had history of cosmetic surgery with satisfaction ranging from unsatisfied (20%) to relative satisfaction (80%). None were fully satisfied.

BDD had high prevalence in patients visiting cosmetic clinic of Razi skin hospital. This high rate of prevalence show the necessity of diagnosis of BDD in skin patients and it is critical for them to refer to psychiatrists or psychologists.