Body Dysmorphic Disorder – Can men get affected by it? Find out!

Unhappiness with appearance can cause men to become reclusive and suicidal.

By: Sandhya Raghavan | | Updated: July 20, 2017 10:16 am

Body image issues were traditionally (and often unfairly) associated only with women. My 80-year-old grandmother once chided my cousin when she rejected a potential groom on the grounds of looks: “Men should not be judged by the way they look!” Perhaps this belief has been exonerating men from being blamed for vanity for generations. But I’d like to tell my grandma that times a’ changing and men are as affected by body image issues as women are these days! [2]

Body dysmorphic disorder, known as BDD can affect men as they can women. A study conducted in America revealed that in the last 25 years, the percentage of men being upset with the way they looked tripled. A whopping 43 percent of men were dissatisfied with their appearance. Shockingly, there are nearly as many men affected with BDD as women! But since men and boys are reluctant to admit their fixation with their looks, they don’t admit to having a problem.

What is Body Dysmorphic Disorder or BDD?
On the outset, BDD may seem harmless compared to the other psychiatric disorders. A simple obsession with one’s looks doesn’t set the alarm bells ringing. But this underrecognised disorder is quite prolific and severe says studies [3]. People become obsessed with their looks and often fret about imagined or slight defects in their appearance.

Worryingly, the disorder is marked by poor quality of life, impaired psychosocial functioning and high rates of suicide. A high proportion of patients also have to be hospitalised and some may become housebound.[3] This may come as a big surprise but a study of dermatology patients reveals that the ones who committed suicide most had acne or BDD. [4] Men with BDD believe that they look ugly or repulsive when in reality, they look completely normal.

How does BDD affect men?
Men with BDD, much like their female counterparts, are obsessed or unhappy with the way they look. But most of them are unhappy with:

• Skin: Excessive acne and related scarring can cause men to get fixated with their skin.
• Hair: Age-related balding or thinning of hair can be a fixation in some men with BDD.
• Nose: Most men are dissatisfied with the size and shape of their noses.
• Genitals: Perceived inadequacies of size can make men obsess about their penises. [2]
• Muscles: A recently recognised form of BDD is muscle dysmorphia where the men are preoccupied with their “puny” size. In reality, these men are quite muscular and large. [1]

Nearly, all the men with BDD spend a lot of time trying to correct or hide their flaws. They often perform repetitive and time-consuming actions such as:

• Checking themselves in the mirror
• Comparing themselves with others
• Seeking reassurance from others
• Camouflaging
• Excessive grooming [1]
• Picking skin
• Eating a restricted diet

What causes BDD in men?
The cause of BDD in men is unknown, but perhaps the reasons are many. There could be genetic-neurobiological, evolutionary and psychological factors that contribute towards BDD. Men, much like women, also face social pressures to be big and muscular. This contributes towards their obsession with being perfect looking at all times.

What are the risks of BDD in men?
Although it may seem like a harmless disorder to have, the implications of BDD on men can be severe. It could lead to:

• Social isolation from embarrassment or shame due to their imagined shortcomings
• Difficulty in performing well at jobs
• Unemployment
• Worsening of existing mental health problems

Most men with BDD do seek dermatological, surgical and psychiatric treatment for their problems. But it was found that the treatments are usually ineffective and some patients become more disappointed with the outcome. They may even become more depressed, suicidal or violent towards others, particularly the medico who treated them.

How to treat men with BDD?
Treating BDD patients can sometimes be a challenge, especially if the men are not forthcoming about their problem. In fact, psychotherapy and counselling are known to be ineffective against treating BDD. Some clinically-approved methods include:
• Serotonin reuptake inhibitors which have been effective in treating BDD
• Cognitive behaviour therapy which helps them develop more realistic views about their body
The repercussions of BDD are quite serious. It stops men from socialising, pursuing their ambitions and living a quality life. The real danger, however, is the risk of suicide which seems to be more in men with BDD.

References:

1. Pope, H., Phillips, K. A., & Olivardia, R. (2000). The Adonis complex: The secret crisis of male body obsession. Simon and Schuster.
2. Perugi, G., Akiskal, H. S., Giannotti, D., Frare, F., Di Vaio, S., & Cassano, G. B. (1997). Gender-related differences in body dysmorphic disorder (dysmorphophobia). Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease.
3. Phillips, K. A. (2005). The broken mirror: understanding and treating body dysmorphic disorder. Oxford University Press, USA.
4. Cotterill, J. A., & Cunliffe, W. J. (1997). Suicide in dermatological patients. British Journal of Dermatology, 137(2), 246-250.
5. Phillips, K. A., Grant, J., Siniscalchi, J., & Albertini, R. S. (2001). Surgical and nonpsychiatric medical treatment of patients with body dysmorphic disorder. Psychosomatics, 42(6), 504-510.

Published : July 19, 2017 6:10 pm | Updated:July 20, 2017 10:16 am

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