'Everybody looks at my pubic bone' - A case report of an adolescent patient with body dysmorphic disorder

Abstract

Objective: Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) was described for the first time more than 100 years ago, but it is still unknown to many clinicians. Although the onset usually occurs during adolescence, BDD has received little attention in the adolescent psychiatric literature. Method: The case and treatment of a 16-year-old female patient is described. Results: The patient, suffering from the overvalued belief of a dislocated pubic bone, a comorbid mild depressive episode, BDD associated rituals and social avoidance, was treated successfully with a combination of exposure and response prevention and 125 mg/day of doxepine. Conclusion: If BDD is diagnosed early in the course and treated appropriately, it is possible to obtain a satisfying outcome.