whereas BDD is classified a somatoform disorder, its delusional variant is classified as a psychotic disorder.
This psychotic variant is also referred to as delusional disorder somatic type. It is sometimes very difficult to distinguish cases of delusional disorder of somatic subtype from severe somatization disorder, and claims have been made that there is a continuum between these illnesses.The condition differs from other conditions with hypochondriacal symptoms in degree of reality impairmen.