Correlates of dysmorphic concern in people seeking cosmetic enhancement

Abstract

Objective: To determine the clinical correlates of dysmorphic concern in persons seeking cosmetic enhancement from cosmetic physicians. Method: A questionnaire survey of 137 patients attending the practices of two cosmetic physicians. Results: Four subjects (2.9%; 95% CI = 0.80%-7.3%) had a diagnosis of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), but many more expressed overconcern with physical appearance ('dysmorphic concern'). Dysmorphic concern accounted for a substantial amount of the variance for mood, social anxiety, and impairment in work and social functioning, while concerns related to how self or others perceive the putative flaw in appearance, impacted significantly on work and leisure activities, but did not apparently influence mood and social anxiety to any significant degree. Conclusions: Dysmorphic concern is a broad dimensional construct that is related to both inter- and intrapsychic distress and disablement associated with people seeking cosmetic enhancement.