Surgical and nonpsychiatric medical treatment of patients with body dysmorphic disorder

Psychosomatics. 2001 Nov-Dec;42(6):504-10. doi: 10.1176/appi.psy.42.6.504.

Abstract

It appears that many individuals with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) receive nonpsychiatric medical treatment and surgery; however, this topic has had little systematic investigation. This study assessed the nonpsychiatric treatment sought and received by 289 individuals (250 adults and 39 children/adolescents) with DSM-IV BDD. Such treatment was sought by 76.4% and received by 66.0% of adults. Dermatologic treatment was most often received (by 45.2% of adults), followed by surgery (by 23.2%). These treatments rarely improved BDD symptoms. Results were similar in children/adolescents. These findings indicate that a majority of patients with BDD receive nonpsychiatric treatment but tend to respond poorly.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age of Onset
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Comorbidity
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Patient Satisfaction*
  • Phobic Disorders / epidemiology
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Rhode Island / epidemiology
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sex Distribution
  • Somatoform Disorders / drug therapy
  • Somatoform Disorders / epidemiology
  • Somatoform Disorders / surgery
  • Somatoform Disorders / therapy*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires