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Questions/Diagnosis & Assessment/Q189 of 246
intermediateexcoriation disorderskin-picking disorderbody-focused repetitive behaviorobsessive-compulsive related disordersdifferential diagnosis
A 30-year-old female presents to the psychiatric clinic with visible excoriations and scarring on her forearms, upper arms, and face. She describes a pattern of spending 1 to 2 hours daily picking at her skin, often targeting perceived imperfections such as minor blemishes or rough patches. She reports feeling an urge to pick that builds until she engages in the behavior, followed by temporary relief and then shame and embarrassment about the resulting wounds. She has tried wearing long sleeves and applying bandages to prevent picking but has been unable to stop. She denies any belief that her skin is infested with parasites or that there are foreign bodies beneath her skin. She denies self-harm intent and states the picking is not performed to injure herself. Dermatologic examination reveals no primary skin pathology underlying the lesions. What is the MOST likely diagnosis?
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