Read closely. Think critically.

Body dysmorphic disorder is a mental health condition involving persistent concerns about perceived flaws in appearance. It is more serious than simply feeling self-conscious or comparing oneself with others.

Our members have raised the question of how social media experiences might relate to body-image concerns. That question requires care: a discussion of social media cannot, on its own, establish what causes a clinical disorder.

For an accessible clinical overview, start with the UK's National Health Service. This is external background reading, not content authored by Mind Assembly.

Research begins by making the question specific enough to investigate. What exactly is being studied? In whom, under what circumstances and with which definitions? Is the phenomenon measurable, and what rival explanations could account for it?

Before claiming a gap, search the literature systematically. Before running any study involving participants, make sure ethics, consent and data-handling requirements are addressed through the relevant institution or review process.

Useful starting points include PubMed's search guide and APA's Journal Article Reporting Standards, which help readers understand what well-reported research should include.