background Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a severe disease with delusional content about defects in appearance and patients with BDD  seek dermatological or surgical help instead of psychiatric treatment.
aim This is the first, large, European study on a general dermatology outpatient clinic, in which the half-year prevalence of BDD was determined. In addition, diagnostic problems and predictors of BDD will be discussed.
method 530 dermatological outpatients completed a validated self-report questionnaire, the BDDQ-dermatology version. A staff member of dermatology scored dermatological defects on a defect severity scale.
results 8.5% (95% ci 6.7-11.5) of the dermatological outpatients screened positive on BDD.
conclusion Our study confirms a high prevalence of BDD in patients on a general dermatology outpatient clinic. Furthermore, clear criteria are needed to define exaggerated concerns about physical defects (Vulink 2006).