Most sufferers first notice the onset of symptoms during adolescence or early adulthood, but there are exceptions to the rule, with some cases developing as early as four years old and others quite late in life--often after some type of traumatic event. The course of the disorder is often chronic with little chance of complete recovery without specialized treatment. With treatment, the recovery process is often long and prone to relapse, although some treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure and response prevention, and medications are providing promising results. The future for BDD sufferers is hopeful as studies are conducted by researchers as a means of finding continually improved treatment options.