Citation

Khoodoruth MAS, Khan YS. SAGE Open Med. Case Rep. 2020; 8: 2050313X20952976.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/2050313X20952976

PMID

32963786

PMCID

PMC7488877

Abstract

There are very few existing reports in adolescents about the clinical presentation and treatment challenges associated with body dysmorphic disorder coexisting with suicidal behaviour. This case report describes a 13-year old male with body dysmorphic disorder, who was completely convinced that his belief related to the disorder is true (delusional belief) and therefore had no insight into his condition. His preoccupation with the shape of his nose progressed significantly over a 2-year period to the extent that he wore a surgical mask on a daily basis to camouflage the perceived defect. The distress due to the persistent preoccupation and intrusive thinking became so severe that he started to experience suicidal ideation and attempted suicide twice with no harm sustained. This case report focuses on three treatment challenges faced by the treating team: the need of continued treatment with pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy following a cosmetic procedure, the impact of the mother's preoccupation with her physical appearance on the recovery of the young person, and the management of suicidality. We have also highlighted the probable causative factors of the development of the illness in this patient which are consistent with the established aetiology of body dysmorphic disorder.

Language: en

Keywords

Adolescent psychiatry; body dysmorphic disorder; case report; suicide