BDDclinic.com

Body dysmorphic disorder frequently occurs with other psychiatric disorders. This is known as comorbidity. In fact, it is rare that we see individuals with body dysmorphic disorder that do not have other related disorders. Below are listed some of the disorders that frequently co-exist with BDD and which the Los Angeles Body Dysmorphic Disorder Clinic routinely treats:

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) - Characterized by individuals who are plagued by persistent, disturbing, and intrusive thoughts, better known as obsessions, which in turn create anxiety. A behavior, also known as a ritual or compulsion, is then performed in an attempt to decrease the anxiety.
  
  
• Body Integrity Identity Disorder - A psychiatric condition in which an individual experiences an overwhelming desire to amputate an otherwise healthy limb.
  

• Trichotillomania - Characterized by the recurrent and often uncontrollable pulling out of one's own hair, frequently resulting in noticeable hair loss.

• Compulsive Hoarding - Characterized by the excessive acquisition and saving of items which are perceived to have value, but most often do not. The individual has great difficulty discarding hoarded items which usually results in extreme clutter.

• Hypochondriasis - Characterized by a preoccupation and fear that the individual may have or might get a serious disease.

• Compulsive Skin Picking (neurotic excoriation) - Characterized by a recurrent and often uncontrollable urge to repetitively pick at one's skin, frequently but not exclusively that being the facial skin.

• Olfactory Reference Syndrome (ORS) - Characterized by a persistent concern and intrusive thoughts that one may be emitting a foul or unpleasant odor.

• Specific Phobia - Characterized by persistent fear of a discernible object or situation.

• Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder) - Characterized by a blatant and persisent fear of social or performance situations in which embarrassment may occur.

• Shy Bladder Syndrome (Paruresis) - Characterized by excessive shame and anxiety when urinating in a public restroom.

• Koro - Characterized by an episode of intense anxiety that a man's penis will recede into his body and possibly cause death.

• Anorexia/Bulimia Nervosa - Characterized by severe disturbances in eating behavior.