The dysmorphobie or dysmorphic disorder is the haunting fear (wrongly or rightly) of being ugly or malformed.

It is a disease characterized by a preoccupation or obsession with a defect in appearance, even a slight imperfection real (freckles, big nose, mottled skin, wrinkles, acne scars), or imaginary. This can cause severe depression or suicide attempts. People suffering from this disorder have degraded and distorted image of themselves and unreasonable fears of rejection because of the interpretation they make their appearance. There are two forms of the disease: a form accompanied by hallucinations and a form without hallucination. Patients (men and women) develop compulsive rituals to cover their (s) failure (s). They may remain a considerable time in front of a mirror to try to reassure but the effect is often reversed. They compulsively seek doctors, drugs or resort to plastic surgery. They can go far to improve their appearance, using methods sometimes dangerous. Some may even attempt self-surgery or suicide. Treatment is often difficult, but there has been progress with drugs such as serotonergic antidepressants.