Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)

Explains what body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is, the symptoms and possible causes of BDD and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and advice for friends and family.

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What treatments are available for BDD?

If you think you may have BDD, going to your GP is a good place to start. Your GP can provide an assessment and diagnosis, and help you access appropriate treatment. If you're worried about going to your GP, you might find it helpful to read our pages on seeking help for a mental health problem.

If you are diagnosed with BDD, your GP should offer you treatment options according to the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. What you are offered may depend on the severity of your symptoms, but ideally you should be given CBT before you are prescribed any medication.

The NICE guidelines on the treatment of BDD recommend:

cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – with self-help materials such as books or computer programs, via telephone, or via a series of sessions with a therapist in a one-to-one or group setting
medication – either on its own or combined with CBT
specialist services for BDD, if other treatments do not work.

As it is not uncommon for any of us to worry about our appearance, the signs of BDD can be missed by professionals.

If you feel your GP does not recognise your symptoms and you are not getting the treatment you need, you may find it useful to get an advocate to support you.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

CBT is a form of talking therapy that aims to identify connections between your thoughts, feelings and behaviours. It can also help you to develop practical skills to manage them. CBT can be delivered one-to-one or in a group.

For BDD, the aim of CBT is to address the key features of BDD to gradually make you feel less anxious about your body, focusing on:

improving your general attitude to body image and physical appearance
your concerns about your perceived physical flaw(s)
reducing your need to carry out unhelpful behaviour.

CBT is available through the NHS. Your GP should be able to refer you for CBT. In England, you may be able to refer yourself via the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme.

There is a useful tool on the NHS website which can help you find which psychological therapy services are available in your local area, or you can try searching on the NHS's general health services search tool (both England only).

NHS waiting lists for CBT can be long, so you may decide to see a therapist privately if you are able to. Accredited CBT therapists can be found through the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP). See our page for tips on finding a private therapist.

Exposure and response prevention in CBT

A behavioural element of CBT – known as exposure and response prevention (ERP) – is recommended for BDD. This technique makes you confront your obsessions so you become used to dealing with them. This means:

facing situations where you would normally think obsessively about the part of your appearance that concerns you, to help you cope better with these situations over time
developing techniques to help you avoid carrying out compulsive behaviours (such as mirror checking) when you would normally want to.

This technique needs to be carefully managed to avoid causing additional anxiety and distress, so it is important that you understand the treatment fully and feel comfortable with your therapist.

Medication

You may be prescribed antidepressants, either on their own or in combination with CBT, if:

CBT is not successful in treating your BDD
your BDD is causing you moderate to severe impairment.

The type of antidepressant prescribed will usually be a serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). This can help to reduce obsessive thoughts and behaviours.

SSRIs can cause unpleasant side effects so it is a good idea to discuss this with your GP. You can also take a look at our information on what you should do before you start taking medication.

If a first course of SSRIs and more intensive CBT is not effective, the next step is to try a different SSRI or another antidepressant called clomipramine.

Specialist services

If initial treatment is not helpful, your GP can refer you for specialist help. This could be through community-based mental health and social care, where you will be given a more thorough assessment by the community mental health team (CMHT). Your CMHT will develop a potential care plan with you, which may include support from a service that specialises in BDD.

Access to specialist services is limited across the country and you may need to travel outside your local area. Waiting times for specialist services can also be very long.