Disorders of body image, ranging from dysmorphic concern through anorexia and bulimia nervosa to body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), are debilitating, often secret conditions frequently associated with significant psychiatric comorbidity such as depression, social phobia and obsessive compulsive disorder.
For the first time the disparate issues pertaining to body image are examined by international experts who bring different yet complementary viewpoints from the disciplines of neurology, psychiatry, dermatology, cosmetic surgery, psychology and anthropology.
Early chapters assess the concept of body image within neurological and evolutionary contexts and cultural influences on our perceptions of beauty and ugliness, disgust and self-loathing. The remaining chapters focus on the clinical characteristics, causes and possible treatment strategies for BDD, eating disorders and associated psychiatric conditions in adults, adolescents and children.
Accessible to clinicians and researchersalike, this fascinating book will appeal to psychiatrists, general practitioners, neurologists, psychologists and cosmetic surgeons.
Going beyond the eating disorders that we commonly think of when we read about body image disorders, Castle (Mental Health Research Institute, Australia) and Phillips (psychiatry and human behavior, Brown U. School of Medicine, US) present 10 contributions addressing neurological and psychiatric manifestations of body image disturbance, as well as associated morbidity. Particular attention is paid to body dysmorphic disorder, characterized by a preoccupation with a non-existent or minimal appearance flaw, and psychological and pharmacological approaches to treatment. Other chapters look at body image in adolescents and children from a developmental perspective and present psychopathological and anthropological takes on body image. Distributed by Taylor & Francis. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
