The psychosocial aspects of people. Many of the papers have focused on the psychological status and functioning of individuals who present for both surgical and non-surgical treatments. Several of the studies have characterized the role that body image plays in the decision to undergo an procedure. Others have documented improvements in body image following successful treatment. Most patients report increased body image dissatisfaction at the time of their initial consultation and this dissatisfaction is considered the motivational catalyst to change one's appearance with a medical procedure. Some patients, however, report an excessive degree of dissatisfaction consistent with the formal psychiatric diagnosis of body dysmorphic disorder, or BDD, defined as a preoccupation with a slight defect in appearance that leads to disruption in daily functioning. Studies conducted around the world over the past 20 years have found that between 5% - 15% of persons who present for treatment have the disorder. Other studies have suggested that these individuals rarely benefit from treatment, underscoring the importance of identifying symptoms of the disorder in patients.