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Review Article Psychiatric disorders in aesthetic medicine: the importance of recognizing signs and symptoms Transtornos psiquiátricos na medicina estética: a importância do reconhecimento de sinais e sintomas JULIANA NICHTERWITZ SCHERER 1* FELIPE ORNELL 1 ■ ABSTRACT JOANA CORRÊA DE MAGALHÃES Psychiatric disorders are widely reported in patients seeking NARVAEZ 2 3 aesthetic treatments. Although they are not necessarily a RAFAEL CEITA NUNES contraindication for procedures, the recognition of these symptoms by the professional tends to strengthen the professional-patient relationship, thus leading to a better prognosis. This reduces the chances of dissatisfaction, complications, and aggravation of psychiatric symptoms, in addition to avoiding legal complications. In this article, the most common psychiatric disorders arising in cosmetic and aesthetic treatment are presented and discussed, as well as guidelines for recognizing the symptoms and managing these patients. Keywords: Aesthetics; Plastic surgery; Psychiatry; Mental health; Body dysmorphic disorders. ■ RESUMO Transtornos psiquiátricos são amplamente evidenciados em pacientes que buscam tratamentos estéticos. Apesar de não configurarem necessariamente uma contraindicação para a realização de procedimentos, o reconhecimento desses sintomas pelo profissional tende a contribuir para o fortalecimento da relação profissional-paciente e para um melhor prognóstico, reduzindo as chances de insatisfação, complicações e agravos Institution: Universidade Federal do Rio nos sintomas psiquiátricos, além de evitar complicações legais. Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. No presente artigo, os transtornos psiquiátricos mais comuns no domínio cosmético e estético foram apresentados e discutidos, Article received: January 16, 2017. assim como as orientações para o reconhecimento de sintomas Article accepted: September 23, 2017. e de manuseio destes pacientes por profissionais de saúde. Conflicts of interest: none. Descritores: Estética; Cirurgia plástica; Psiquiatria; Saúde mental; Transtornos dismórficos corporais. DOI: 10.5935/2177-1235.2017RBCP0095 1 Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. 2 Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. 3 Universidade de Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil. 586 Rev. Bras. Cir. Plást. 2017;32(4):586-593 Psychiatric disorders in aesthetic medicine INTRODUCTION According to Ritvo et al.7, although such disorders are common, the aesthetic treatment of this population According to the International Society for can be very challenging, especially because, in many Aesthetic Plastic Surgery1, in 2013 Brazil was the cases, the patients are obsessed with body image and not country in which the most plastic surgeries were satisfied with the results of the procedures. Therefore, carried out, and was second only to the United States familiarization with and recognition of the signs and in the number of non-surgical cosmetic procedures. symptoms of psychiatric disorders can be very important Various demographic, social, and psychological for professionals in the aesthetic field, to avoid having factors have been proposed as predictors of desire for patients undergo unsatisfactory procedures, and (in aesthetic procedures; however, these factors might the context of the growing importance of medical-legal vary according to the procedure, culture, and religion disputes) to avoid lawsuits. Taking these aspects into of a society2. Studies have found that the main reason account, the present article aims to describe the most for patients to request aesthetic procedures is a hope common psychiatric disorders in the aesthetic domain, of becoming more satisfied with their appearance and and to guide professionals in the recognition of the improving their psychosocial functioning3. signs and symptoms of psychiatric disorders and the Technological developments in the aesthetic management of patients with these disorders. field have provided the possibility of carrying out an even wider range of procedures. Modern aesthetic OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDERS procedures, both surgical and minimally invasive, allow (OCD) the treatment of various body dysmorphic and aesthetic dysfunctions, such as acne, stretch marks, cellulitis, localized fat, and scars, among others4. Body Dysmorphic Disorder Moreover, aesthetic medicine also interacts with post-surgical rehabilitation, which is often essential Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a psychiatric for the recovery of individuals in postoperative stages. disorder included within the category of obsessive- Therefore, the development of aesthetic medicine compulsive disorders, characterized by the individual’s provides not only reconstruction of the body image but exaggerated concern with appearance. In this also rehabilitation and promotion of physical, mental, sense, BBD is mainly characterized by excessive and social health. preoccupation with one or more defects or failures In the context of mental health, it is known in physical appearance that are not observable by that the aesthetic dysfunctions are associated with third parties, or only slightly visible. This distortion in several psychiatric disorders, such as depression, perception generates intrusive thoughts and repetitive anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorders, by behavior, difficult to control, that can last 3 to 8 hours damaging self-esteem and quality of life5. It seems a day, causing intense distress and damaging multiple clear that a successful aesthetic procedure could aspects of life. lead to fundamental emotional improvements, such However, it is important that a professional as self-image enhancement and higher self-esteem, knows how to differentiate BDD from anorexia and consequently affecting the quality of life and mental bulimia. While in those disorders the concern is with health3. the size or shape of the body , BDD refers to one or Thus, several studies have demonstrated more specific body parts, such as the nose, mouth, chin, improvement in the psychosocial functioning of breasts, head, hair, legs, or hips10. subjects who underwent aesthetic treatments4,6. On Studies have found that the prevalence of BDD the other hand, patient failure or dissatisfaction after in the general population ranges from 1-3%11. On the an aesthetic procedure could lead to a worsening of other hand, despite the low prevalence in the general symptoms, especially when the patient already has population, the prevalence of BDD in subjects seeking a history or current diagnosis of certain psychiatric dermatological treatment or plastic surgery can vary disorders7. from 5 to 15%12, reaching more than 50% in some Studies show that about 50% of individuals populations13. Owing to this high prevalence, BDD is seeking aesthetic treatments fulfill the diagnostic the most extensively studied psychiatric disorder in the criteria for psychiatric disorders, mainly associated literature on aesthetic procedures. with body image disorders8. A study carried out in Evidence suggests that patients with higher 2011 found that 21-59% of the patients who underwent levels of BDD symptoms are less satisfied with the aesthetic surgeries presented higher scores regarding results of aesthetic surgeries, and present higher physical dissatisfaction and symptoms of psychiatric levels of psychological symptoms and lower levels of disorders than members of the general population9. self-esteem than patients with less expressive BDD9. Rev. Bras. Cir. Plást. 2017;32(4):586-593 587 Scherer JN et al. www.rbcp.org.br Similarly, other studies have shown that the more Despite the importance of eating disorders, few extensive the symptoms of the disorder, the greater studies have examined the psychological ramifications the dissatisfaction of the patient after a procedure14. of performing aesthetic procedures in people with Thus, some studies have concluded that carrying eating disorders. In this sense, it is important to note out aesthetic procedures in this population, besides that eating disorders might be of particular concern for not generally improving BDD symptoms15,16, might patients interested in body contouring procedures. A actually result in exacerbation of the symptoms17, or in study carried out by Jávo et al.21 showed that women the appearance of other exaggerated body concerns18. with eating problems are more interested in aesthetic In addition, studies have reported that rhinoplasty is procedures than female controls. In addition, the the most prevalent aesthetic procedure among patients authors found that interest in liposuction was twice with BDD, mainly owing to the central position of the as high in this population as in women without eating nose in the face19,20. disorders, and was reported by 52% of participants with eating problems21. EATING DISORDERS Some studies have reported cases of women with anorexia and bulimia who had previously undergone facial or body procedures, suggesting that Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia nervosa these procedures might lead to exacerbation of eating symptoms22. However, the data are contradictory, since Anorexia nervosa is a serious and complex eating other studies reported that procedures such as breast disorder, in which people seek excessive weight loss, implants, liposuction, and abdominoplasty reduce leading to extreme thinness. This disorder mainly the risk of developing an eating disorder, as well as affects women, resulting in body weight significantly improving body image and self-esteem23-25. According