A survey of the body dysmorphic disorder, once known as "dysmorphophobia", is given concerning classification, symptoms, diagnosis, epidemiology, nosology, pathogenesis and therapy. It can be shown that there is no good reason to differentiate between delusional and non-delusional forms as has been done in the international classification systems. Shame is the common affect that leads into the vicious circle of self-observation and bashfulness. The available data just confirm the clinical impression that we have to deal with a unified syndrome. In addition, actual studies show how important comorbidity is, especially comorbid depressions.
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