Body dysmorphic disorder in a Ghanaian male: case report

A 39 year old single, unemployed man attended our outpatient clinic at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital. He was self referred and he presented with a characteristic preoccupation with some imagined defect in his appearance, namely the shrivelling of the whole left side of his body, which he claimed was severe enough to interfere with his social and occupational functioning. He was therefore admitted voluntarily for further exploration, examination and treatment. The diagnosis of body dysmorphophobic disorder was made. The literature review of this disorder, and the various attempts made at the treatment of the disorder have been described.